December Auto Sales Expected to Be Sluggish, Toyota Likely to Surpass Ford Again

Washingtoin DC January 3, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that as automakers prepare to release sales results for December, analysts are predicting another sluggish month for Detroit automakers, according to The Washington Post.

U.S. sales for December are expected to be a seasonally adjusted rate of between 16.5 million and 16.8 million vehicles, down from last December's rate of 17.1 million vehicles.

News reports show Toyota likely to surge past Ford for the No. 2 sales spot for the third time this year. Ford sales are expected to dip between 13 percent and 17 percent in December, while Toyota is again expected to gain about 12 percent in sales for the month.

Meanwhile, GM's sales are predicted to slump by as much as 2 percent for the month and Chrysler's sales are anticipated to fall 2 percent.

Helped by consumer demand for smaller SUVs and cars, Asian automakers gained big in 2006. An early report from Volkswagen's luxury Audi unit shows a 34.6 percent rise in U.S. sales in December, taking its 2006 sales to a record 90,116 cars.

In December, combined market share for International automakers is expected to hit around 48 percent.