YEH

Praytell what of the above is "spin" and not factually correct?

I supposed me rebutting a poster's assertion that Honda is a "one trick pony" w/ the Accord and is "failing" aside from that is my "PR spin" for Honda. lol

Sorry, if I like to correct inaccurate assertions/misconceptions (but I guess remaining ignorant is fine by you).

VTEC Racer

Why does Hyundai/Kia continue fleet sales if their retail sales are production limited? It would make more sense to allocate inventory to retail, where the profit is greater, than allocating any at all to fleets, where the profit is less and brand image and resale value is affected negatively. Incentives also shouldn't be what they are if retail demand is really what they make it seem to be.

SSFTSX

so capacity is less now compared to last year as sales have declined?

it is not short sighted at all. as Korean got limited time boost. which they will not be able to maintain. see Suzuki/Mitsu examples.
Era of Japanese makers is begining. See the big Nissan-Autovaz-Renault alliance. Honda new factory in Mexico and almost 3 variations for next Fit.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Is it possible that contracts were signed beforehand and so manufacturers have to keep allocating cars to fleet sales even though they are production limited?

But then again, we seem to be talking about a sales decline here, not sales stabilizing....

EhkoXC

I was going to post something along the same lines. It is possible that they have contractual obligations they need to fulfill with fleet sales, but the numbers seem to be going in the wrong direction if this was a simple case of production limitation.

I wonder if this is a side effect over the MPG fiasco?

jnc2000

Looks like H/K are seeing their sales numbers shift around...
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...201091871.html

VTEC Racer

Yeah it could be unfulfilled contracts but even if that were true, they should literally have zero cash on the hood for retail sales from they way they describe their production limitations.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

How much incentives are we talking about here?

TSX69

Hyundai-Kia Raises Fleet Sales as Retail Sales Slide

To counteract slumping U.S. retail sales, Hyundai-Kia Automotive ratcheted up deliveries of vehicles to fleet buyers in March.

Fleet sales for Hyundai-Kia jumped 33 percent to 17,100 units for the month, partially offsetting a 12 percent drop in retail sales to 100,300 light vehicles.

For the 1st quarter, the South Korean automaker boosted fleet volume 50 percent to 42,400 units while its retail sales dropped 9 percent compared with the same period last year.

That increased fleet to 15 percent of Hyundai-Kia's total sales mix, up from 9 percent in the 1st 3 months of last year.

Hyundai-Kia's actions stand out from those of the 6 other major automakers in the U.S. market.

As a group, the 7 largest automakers raised March sales 3 percent for both retail and fleet. For the 1st 3 months, they increased retail volume 7 percent, compared with a 4 percent gain on the fleet side.

Nissan North America cut fleet volume 12 percent in March and 18 percent in the 1st 3 months. Its retail sales were 4 percent higher in the 1st quarter.

In the 1st quarter of last year, Nissan sent many of its aging Altima and Sentra models to fleet buyers.

But this year with redesigned Altima and Sentra entries, the company said it intends to funnel more of those models to its dealers.

Chrysler Group and Toyota Motor Sales also are less reliant on fleet sales this year. Chrysler's fleet sales have declined 2 percent this year as retail sales have risen 12 percent. Toyota's fleet sales are flat at 73,700 but retail is up 10 percent.

Ford Motor Co. and General Motors have a more balanced approach in the 1st quarter.

At Ford, retail sales rose 11 percent and fleet 12 percent. GM boosted retail 10 percent but fleet only 6 percent.

American Honda lets dealers handle any fleet sales. The Automotive News Data Center estimates its fleet volume at 2 percent of total sales.

PHP Code:

Retail vs. fleet sales
Estimated retail and fleet volume for March 2013 vs. March 2012
Retail:         March 2013 retail sales    March 2013 % retail share    March 2012 retail sales    March 2012 % retail share    % change
Toyota Motor         180,300    88%    176,500    87%    2%
General Motors         179,000    73%    171,400    74%    4%
Ford Motor         160,400    68%    152,600    68%    5%
American Honda         133,300    98%    124,500    98%    7%
Chrysler Group         126,200    74%    114,600    70%    10%
Nissan N.A.         108,000    78%    102,500    75%    5%
Hyundai-Kia         100,300    85%    114,400    90%    -12%
Top 7         987,500    79%    956,500    79%    3%
                               
                               
Fleet:         March 2013 fleet sales    March 2013 % fleet share    March 2012 fleet sales    March 2012 % fleet share    % change
Ford Motor         75,700    32%    70,800    32%    7%
General Motors         67,000    27%    59,600    26%    12%
Chrysler Group         45,400    26%    48,800    30%    -7%
Nissan N.A.         29,700    22%    33,900    25%    -12%
Toyota Motor         25,100    12%    26,800    13%    -6%
Hyundai-Kia         17,100    15%    12,900    10%    33%
American Honda         2,700    2%    2,500    2%    7%
Top 7         262,700    21%    255,300    21%    3% 


biker

where's our resident Hyundai basher?

SSFTSX

here is another gem of YEH laid to rest that majority of Genesis sales are V8 and $40k+ price. which was simply not right from begining.

You have to look a frim behaviour in rest of the world.
Hyundai never manage to make Honda image in third world even in the simplistic basic products let alone in complex.

ttribe

You summoned him by speaking of him! Damn youuuuuuuuuuuu!

oonowindoo

The funny thing is, he would never answer your question directly. He would always come up with some irrelevant data/opinions that make you say WTF?

Wife: You know they are gonna open a new Walmart here
Him: There are Walmart in China
Wife: So? What does that have to do with what i said earlier?
Him: The Walmart in China are bigger i heard.
Wife: WTF?
Him: ???

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Dude this article was dated 07/05/2011.

phile

^ you forgot to quote him it makes it look like you're saying it and then arguing with yourself

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Fixed.
But I do enjoy arguing with myself.

speedemon90

No they went out and increased it
Here's autoblogs post

Black Tire

Looks like Chrysler will be needing another bailout:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/chrysler-ea...W4tQ0E-;_ylv=3

biker

Chrysler is doing a lot better than Fiat. Should only be a short term problem.

AZuser

April 2013 : The Mighty Camry Dethroned By The Accord

Accord - 33,538
Camry - 31,710
Fusion - 26,722
Altima - 21,991
Malibu - 21,734
Sonata - 16,077
Optima - 14,678
Jetta - 13,078
Mazda 6 - 2933

phile

From Acura's own press release:

that's quite loose usage of the word strong

JAB00

The new Camry is ugly while the new Accord is one of the best looking Accord in recent memory.

biker

It's sad to see a great car like the Mazda 6 get so few sales. Have Altima sales peaked?

fsttyms1

Now lets see if it continues. Our dealer has yet to sell one

Edward'TLS

Exterior styling plays a major factor in auto sales.

Hapa DC5

Surprised to see the Altima slump. Maybe it has peaked?

phile

Oh it'll continue....down

fsttyms1

Couldnt agree more. I know it does with me. I dont care how good the car is inside and out, if i dont like the way it looks im not going to drive it. I think this is also why many manufactures are starting to push the edge on styling. Look at Toyota/Lexus. They have always been on the bland side of styling. Not any more.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

The mazda 6 is pretty much the best looking mid-size family FWD sedan right now....at least to me it is...

biker

^ +1

TSX69

Fleet Flip-Flop:
Detroit 3 are Down; Asians Pick Up the Slack

The Detroit 3 slashed fleet sales in July, but Nissan North America, Hyundai-Kia and Toyota Motor Sales picked up the slack with huge gains.

Domestic-brand fleet activity dropped by 15,300 units last month, down 36 percent at Chrysler Group, 9 percent at Ford Motor and 6 percent at General Motors.

But 3 automakers made up for all but 1,700 units of the Detroit 3 decline. Fleet sales surged 87 percent at Nissan North America, 43 percent at Hyundai-Kia Automotive and 34 percent at Toyota Motor Sales.

So overall, July fleet volume for the 7 biggest automakers fell 1 percent to 143,800, while retail volume rose 16 percent to 983,000.

Industry fleet volume usually declines in the 2nd half of the year. But July was abnormally low at just 13 percent of total sales, compared with 15 percent a year earlier. That was enough to cut the major automaker fleet mix a point, to 19 percent, from 20 percent through the 1st 7 months.

For the most part, July exaggerated broader yearlong trends.

So far this year, Detroit automakers have trimmed their reliance on fleet sales and boosted retail. Chrysler leads this trend, increasing sales through dealers 16 percent while reducing fleet 8 percent. GM fleet activity through 7 months was flat but retail was 12 percent higher. Ford was up 8 percent on fleet and 15 percent on retail.

Despite July's surge, Toyota was down 6 percent on fleet and up 10 percent on retail through the 1st 7 months. Nissan was balanced, up 8 percent for fleet and 9 percent for retail.

Hyundai-Kia sales were flat overall through 7 months, but only because a 62 percent fleet spike offset a 7 percent retail drop.

PHP Code:

Retail vs. fleet sales
Estimated retail and fleet volume for July 2013 vs. July 2012
                          
Retail    July 2013 retail sales    July 2013 % retail    July 2012 retail sales    July 2012 % retail    July % change
General Motors    189,100    81%    153,500    76%    23%
Toyota Motor    184,600    95%    158,400    96%    17%
Ford Motor    151,000    78%    126,800    73%    19%
American Honda    138,600    98%    114,600    98%    21%
Chrysler Group    125,700    90%    103,600    82%    21%
Hyundai-Kia    98,200    85%    98,400    89%    0%
Nissan N.A.    95,800    88%    91,300    93%    5%
Top 7    983,000    87%    846,600    85%    16%
                          
Fleet    July 2013 fleet sales    July 2013 % fleet    July 2012 fleet sales    July 2012 % fleet    July % of change
General Motors    45,000    19%    47,700    24%    –6%
Ford Motor    42,700    22%    47,200    27%    –9%
Hyundai-Kia    16,800    15%    11,700    11%    43%
Chrysler Group    14,400    10%    22,500    18%    –36%
Nissan N.A.    13,300    12%    7,100    7%    87%
Toyota Motor    8,800    5%    6,500    4%    34%
American Honda    2,800    2%    2,300    2%    21%
Top 7    143,800    13%    145,000    15%    –1% 


SSFTSX

Camry is selling at price of Civic.


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireS...g-car-19945493

Toyota Exec: Camry Will Stay as US Top-Selling Car
DETROIT August 13, 2013 (AP)
By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer
Associated Press
Toyota will not relinquish the Camry's spot as America's most popular car this year, a top executive told industry analysts on Tuesday.

Senior Vice President Bob Carter said the company will sell more than 400,000 of the midsize cars in 2013, enough to fend off a challenge from the Honda Accord and other models in the most competitive part of the U.S. auto market.

The Camry has been America's top-selling car for 11 straight years, but recent new cars from Honda, Ford, Nissan and others have chipped into its lead. Carter said it's important to Toyota that the Camry remain No. 1.

"The midsize sedan market is the largest segment in the industry, and we want Toyota to be America's favorite car — period," he said at the J.P. Morgan Auto Conference in New York.

Carter conceded that Toyota has raised discounts on the car in an effort to keep sales strong amid intense competition but said most other automakers offer even higher incentives.

Camry sales fell 2 percent from January through June as its main rivals, the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion, posted big sales gains. In the first half of the year, the hot-selling Accord trailed Camry in sales by only 21,000, closing a gap that was 59,000 a year earlier.

Toyota responded with discounts on the Camry, and its average sales price of just over $20,900 in early July of was the lowest of nine top-selling midsize cars, according to data from J.D. Power and Associates.

As a result, Camry sales grew 16 percent last month to more than 242,000 for the first seven months of the year. The increase widened Camry's lead over the Accord to more than 24,000. The third-place Altima was 45,000 behind Camry, while Ford's Fusion was fourth, nearly 61,000 below Camry.

Carter also told the analysts that the stylish and larger all-new Corolla compact will hit showrooms around Labor Day. An eco version will get 42 miles per gallon on the highway, more than the first-generation Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid. The first Prius, which came out for the 2001 model year, got 41 mpg on the highway.

The Corolla, he said, started Toyota's reputation for sterling reliability, and the company has sold more than 40 million worldwide. He even poked fun at the current boxy version, which was last updated five years ago and looks old compared with the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze.

"Out of those 40 million people, no one ever bought a Corolla because they thought they looked good driving it," Carter said. "That changes at the end of the month with the new Corolla."

The new car has more interior room than early-generation Camrys, including more back-seat legroom than the current model, Carter said. It also sits lower and has a wider stance for a more athletic look.

Carter also said Toyota plans to have fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrid versions of every model it sells in the 2020s. The company plans a hybrid with electric and hydrogen fuel cell motors in 2015.

Toyota, Carter said, will sell more than 250,000 Prius models this year.

The company used to control 90 percent of the U.S. market for hybrids, but because of competition from Ford and others, the market share has shrunk to 74 percent, even though Toyota sales are up, he said.

Toyota's new Tundra full-size pickup also will start arriving at dealers in September. The company has only about 7 percent of full-size sales due to dominance by Detroit, Carter said. He expects prices for the new Tundra to rise because the company has added two luxury lines that were once Detroit's exclusive domain.

A factory in San Antonio that which makes the Tundra is running on two shifts and overtime to supply new versions, Carter said. He said the pickup market has rebounded faster than Toyota expected. Full-size pickup sales are up nearly 23 percent through July, while Tundra sales were up 13 percent.

Toyota, on the other hand, dominates the compact pickup market with its Tacoma, which controls 60 percent of the market, Carter said. But he said competition is coming from new General Motors trucks next year.