Edmunds.com Forecasts October Auto Sales: Domestic U.S. Market Share to Hit Record Low

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2005 -- This month's new vehicle sales are expected to fall to 1.2 million units, a nine percent decrease from October 2004 (when adjusted for one less selling day this year), according to Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information.

The combined monthly U.S. market share for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors domestic nameplates is estimated to be 53 percent in October, a record low, down from 54.8 percent in September.

Edmunds.com predicts Chrysler will sell 159,000 units in October, down six percent compared to October 2004 and down nine percent compared to September 2005. This would result in a new car market share of 13.2 percent for Chrysler in October, up from 12.8 percent in October 2004 and unchanged when compared to September.

Edmunds.com predicts Ford will sell 203,000 units in October, down 22 percent compared to October 2004 and down two percent compared to September 2005. This would result in a market share of 16.8 percent of new car sales in October for Ford, down from 19.5 percent in October 2004 but up from 15.6 percent in September.

According to Edmunds.com, GM will sell 277,000 units in October, down 19 percent when compared to both October 2004 and September 2005. GM's market share is expected to be 23 percent of new vehicle sales in October, down from 25.7 percent in October 2004 and down from 25.9 percent in September.

"The payback from the incentive-driven summer sales was delivered in October. Fewer new model launches, combined with lower incentives spending by the manufacturers and the continuation of high gas prices resulted in a dramatic decline in showroom traffic, particularly for the domestic brands," remarked Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com.

This month, Honda is predicted to sell 122,000 units, up 11 percent compared with October 2004 and up one percent compared with September 2005. Its market share is expected to increase from 9.2 percent in September to 10.1 percent in October.

Nissan is predicted to sell more than 85,000 units in October, down two percent compared to October 2004 and down nine percent from September 2005. Nissan's market share is expected to be 7.1 percent, unchanged from last month.

Toyota is expected to sell 178,000 units, up four percent compared to October 2004 and unchanged compared to September 2005, resulting in an increase in market share from 13.5 percent in September to 14.8 percent in October.