We've got some serious number crunchers around here at the Edmunds corporate megaplex. So serious, in fact, that they don't even have to wait until the end of the month to call the sales numbers.
And their predictions for February? Not surprising, yet still slightly shocking.
How about Chrysler down 53.1% year over year? And Ford? Down 47.5%, GM off 46.2%.
A Big Three problem? Not really.
Try Toyota down 38.9% while Nissan is expected to drop 32.9%. Even Honda could be off 32.1%.
Then again, these are only predictions. It could be worse.
Edmunds.com Forecasts February Auto Sales
brn says:
10:39 AM, 02/26/09
Even worse, considering Feb 2008 was bad.
tmanz says:
12:24 PM, 02/26/09
Anyone have any good data on the specifics of peoples shopping habits for cars?
How many aren't buying only because of financial worries?
How many aren't buying becuase they simply decided that their current car is good enough for awhile longer?
How many tried to buy, but couldn't get credit?
How long did people keep cars 20 years ago compared to 5 years ago, compared to how long they plan to keep thier current one?
Cars don't seem to be making such big leaps in performance, comfort and safety anymore. Is that leading a lot of customers to not see enough in the new cars to make them bother 'upgrading'? Or is that too logical for the bulk of the 'must have the latest thing' public?
iancar says:
04:40 PM, 02/26/09
No one can survive with these numbers. Someone has to die first or all of them need to lineup in front of Washington and Tokyo for cash, or a lot of cardboard boxes.
tmanz says:
07:36 PM, 02/26/09
anyone have numbers for the rest of the manufactures?
Hyundai
Kia
BMW
Audi
MB
estreka says:
12:18 PM, 02/27/09
It's sad when scoring in the -20's is a great thing.
gs42 says:
01:55 PM, 02/27/09
The actual numbers may be a little worse if local observation is accurate. The car business is in a big hurt in Indiana. There are enough 2009 cars to last the whole calendar year at a minimum.
gs42 says:
01:56 PM, 02/27/09
The actual numbers may be a little worse if local observation is accurate. The car business is in a big hurt in Indiana. There are enough 2009 cars to last the whole calendar year at a minimum.
65belvedere says:
12:59 PM, 03/ 1/09
No wonder, they don't care if they sell a car or truck. The GM credit union discount is a SCAM!!!! Made my best deal,ask for that discount and they said it was already included. SCAM!!!!
BS
65belvedere says:
01:04 PM, 03/ 1/09
I have been trying to make a deal for 2 months. The dealers in central Florida are ASS*****. I have them down to $24,000 on a 31,000 truck but at a out of town dealer. It sad when they don't even call back.