MAY
SALES: SLOWER, SLOWING?
Sales
of new vehicles dropped nearly 6 percent, raising concerns that sales could
finally be slowing after two years of extremely strong numbers. May sales ran at
a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about 15.6 million, which marks the first
time since January that sales had dropped below the rate of 16 million units
annually. The final results for May were below the expectations of many
analysts, but automakers said they didn't believe the drop was harbinger of more
trouble in the months ahead. Read more about the good, the bad, and the record
setters including Toyota and Hyundai today inside TCC:
May Sales Slower
All Around (6/3/2002)
TOP 20
BEST-SELLING VEHICLES, MAY 2002 1 Ford
F-Series pickup
344,704
2 Chevy Silverado-C/K pickup 274,170
3 Toyota Camry 189,118
4 Dodge Ram pickup 161,286
5 Ford Explorer 157,566
6 Honda Accord 148,486
7 Ford Taurus 133,892
8 Honda Civic 126,380
9 Dodge Caravan 118,048
10 Chevrolet Cavalier 114,898
11 Toyota Corolla 96,501
12 Ford Focus 94,863
13 Ford Ranger pickup 93,809
14 Chevy TrailBlazer 90,162
15 Jeep Grand Cherokee 87,149
16 Nissan Altima 84,686
17 Chevrolet Tahoe 81,650
18 GMC Sierra pickup 79,593
19 Chevrolet Impala 78,903
20
Pontiac Grand Am
67,141
Source: Reuters
EPA
REPORT BLAMES US FOR GLOBAL WARMING
A
report compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that human
beings are responsible for the effects of global warming in the 20th
century. In opposition to statements made by the Bush Administration, the report
says "greenhouse gases are accumulating in the Earth's atmosphere as a result of
human activities, causing global mean surface air temperatures and subsurface
ocean temperatures to rise," Reuters reports. The report, already being decried
on talk radio as flawed, says that U.S.-borne greenhouse gases will increase 43
percent by the year 2020. Despite the controversial findings, the Administration
has passed on signing the Kyoto Treaty, which aims to cut global emissions of
greenhouse gases.
TCC Tip: Exhausting Choices by Bengt Halvorson (5/27/2002)
FIRESTONE
CLASS-ACTION APPEAL DENIED
Claimants seeking class-action status for their Ford
Explorer lawsuits have lost another round. A federal appeals court will not
second-guess a prior decision to deny a class action to thousands of Explorer
owners who want compensation for the reduced resale value of their vehicles, in
the aftermath of the 2000 Firestone tire recall. The judges in both the
appellate and lower courts found that a single class-action suit would be
unmanageable; attorneys for the claimants tell Reuters they may appeal to the
U.S. Supreme Court. These lawsuits are separate from the personal-injury and
wrongful-death suits filed separately against both Ford and
Firestone.
GM
BOOSTING CAR REBATES
Following
an increase in rebates on its truck models, GM says it will also raise
incentives on its mid-size passenger cars by $500. With the bump, GM will now
give $2500 cash back on the Pontiac Grand Am, Chevrolet Malibu, Impala, Monte Carlo, and Buick Regal. GM’s May
sales fell 12 percent, twice as much as the industry average; the Regal alone
fell off 64 percent from May 2001. The rebates are in effect through July
1.
May Sales Slower
All Around by Joseph Szczesny
(6/3/2002)
CHRYSLER
EXTENDS EXTENDED WARRANTIES
The
Chrysler Group says it will offer a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty on vehicles
sold through July 8, extending an offer set to expire. The company will also
stick with $2500 rebates or zero-percent financing for three years on minivans,
Grand Cherokees and Durangos, a spokesman told Reuters on Friday. The offers
counter cash rebates and cut-rate financing offered by Ford and GM up to the
July 4 weekend.
DC May Extend Extended Warranty by Joseph Szczesny (5/27/2002)
MAYBACHS: 57 AND 62
DaimlerChrysler says the first two Maybach models will be named the 57 and 62, Automotive News reports. The 57, measuring 5.7 meters long, will be the junior model while the 62, at 6.2 meters long, will be the long-wheelbase version. Prices for the 57 will start just below $300,000; sales are set for the end of the year in Europe, the newsweekly says.
Carmakers in a Horsepower War by TCC Team (5/13/2002)
NHTSA
WORKING ON CAR-SUV CRASHES
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking for ways to
cut down on fatalities and injuries in accidents between cars and SUVs. Dr.
Jeffrey Runge, head of NHTSA, said yesterday that his agency will study the
problems caused when taller, heavier SUVs collide with smaller, lighter
passenger cars and will make recommendations to carmakers. In each year since
1995, car-SUV crashes have killed more car passengers than truck passengers,
Runge said.
NHTSA: We’re Staying Alive by Bengt Halvorson (4/29/2002)
OPPOSITION
TO TIRE RULES GROWING
NHTSA is facing opposition to its push for tougher tire
testing. Reuters reports that tire and automakers are resisting the changes,
saying it could cost $1.5 billion to make changes to vehicles and tires to meet
tougher standards. NHTSA says a range of changes, such as more miles of
durability testing, could save 27 lives each year and prevent 667 injuries
thought to be caused by blowouts and other tire problems. The Rubber
Manufacturers Association, which represents most of the major tiremakers, says
NHTSA’s estimate that one-third of tires would need design changes is too low.
The news service says GM estimates that 22 percent of its cars and 6 percent of
its trucks would not pass tests with current tires.
NHTSA
FOCUSES ON FOCUS
Already
recalled eight times, the Ford Focus is now being investigated in two separate
cases by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA
says that 72 people have reported engine stalling; seven reported crashes as a
result of the potential defect, which could affect about 575,000 2000-2001
vehicles. In the other case, 2000-2002 Focuses are being studied for control-arm
fracture, which seven owners have reported and implicated in six crashes.
2002 Ford Focus ZTW Wagon by Paul Wiley Cockerham (5/27/2002)
The NHTSA also is pushing ahead a study of about 500,000 mid-size GM sedans and minivans for a possible steering defect. Reuters says more than 1200 people have reported locked steering while driving; 28 crashes have also been reported. The models involved include the 1997 Chevrolet Venture and Malibu; Olds Silhouette and Cutlass; Pontiac Grand Prix and Tran Sport; and the 1998 Olds Intrigue. This stage of investigation precedes a formal recall, although not all similar studies are elevated to a full recall.
GM UPS
CASH BACK
While
GM put out positive vibes in Wilmington, it spread a little love across the
rebate scene as well, boosting rebates on some of its truck models by $750. GM
told Reuters it would match key rebates offered by rival Ford in the face of
tricky May sales numbers; sales of GM’s trucks, on a roll for the past year,
plunged by 23 percent while Ford’s fell just more than one percent and
Chrysler’s rose. The news service says GM’s revised rebates give buyers of
mid-size SUVs $1750 cash back; four-door full-size trucks, $1500; and the rest
of its truck lineup, $2500. Ford’s deals also offer low-interest financing,
while Chrysler’s includes its recently extended extended-warranty
offering.
Big
Three In Incentive “War” by TCC Team (4/1/2002)
Email This Page