October Sales Returning to Pre-Clunker Norm
October 26, 2009
With another week gone by, October sales look to be on track for Seasonally Adjusted 
Annualized Rate (SAAR) in the low 10 million range, according to the latest data from Edmunds.com, which issues a more detailed forecast later this week.
General Motors' market share, which in the early going of the month stood at 22.4 percent, has slipped slightly to 21.7 percent in the latest Edmunds.com analysis.
In terms of sales by segments, the market appears to be returning to a pre-Cash for Clunkers equilibrium between large SUVs and trucks compared with small cars.
Sales of compact cars during this summer's Car Allowance Rebate Systems (CARS) program, in full swing in late July and August, soared. Market share for the segment in August shot up to 23.5 percent. Edmunds.com's analysis shows the segment falling back to 15.3 percent this month, nearly on par with the 15.9 percent before the Clunker program.
At the same time, sales of large trucks and SUVs fell during the Cash for Clunkers program. Those two segments as well are returning to more normal levels.
The market share of large trucks fell to 10.1 percent during Cash for Clunkers. It has shot up to 13.6 percent - above the pre-Clunker level of 11.8 percent due to October being the industry's truck month during which incentives of trucks are hefty.
The share of large SUVs fell to 2.9 percent of August sales. In October, it is up to 5.7 percent, above the pre-Clunker level of 4.7 percent.
Segment Pre-Clunker August October
Compact Car 15.9% 23.5% 15.3%
Large Truck 11.8% 10.1% 13.6%
Large SUV 4.7% 2.9% 5.7%
Source: Edmunds.com
Automakers report sales on Tuesday, Nov. 3. -- Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large
Photo by Ford
The compact Ford Focus was one of August's hot sellers.
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 6:39 AM under Analysis , Companies , GM | Comments (1) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
If we're back to the days of 10M sales, ... the US auto industry is still in big trouble. Way too much capacity, and I don't see Hyundai NOT gaining share. The US auto industry would be better with a healthy Ford eating Chrysler's liquidated market share.
Posted by: maitlandking | October 26, 2009 at 10:30 AM