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The bleak winter that plagued the start of 2014 looks to be behind the auto makers, as a record-setting SAAR and strong performances by most brands helped propel auto sales in May to post-recession heights.
Volvo and Volkswagen were the major losers this month, seeing losses of 21 percent and 15 percent respectively. Chrysler also saw a 22 percent less as a brand, but FCA overall saw a 17 percent jump, bolstered by Ram and Jeep – as has been the case for the last while.
Practically every Japanese auto maker was up, save for the Scion brand, with most posting double digit increases. Mitsubishi was up 54 percent while Mazda saw a 23 percent bump. Ford and GM also saw solid gains. Check out the full table at Automotive News.
38 Comments on “May 2014 Sales: SAAR 16.8 Million In A Strong Bounce From Winter...”
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It also appears that car buyers also didn’t much worry about the GM recall scandal as they saw a solid 13% gain over last year.
Exactly. I think the only people who care about the GM recall debacle are enthusiasts like ourselves (who may or may not want a GM vehicle), and people who hate GM (and were never going to buy the company’s products anyway). I’ve talked to several people who actually own some of the affected cars, and even *they* weren’t really fazed by it.
Will Jeep pass Korean Government Motors Hyundai division before or after the Renegade debuts?
35,000 Mopar minivans last month when you count Canada!
The Lincoln MKZ is more like a Buick than a Cadillac. A Varvatos 300 with any drivetrain is a better luxury car than anything Ford makes. Who has anything like a HEMI AWD?
What I find most interesting is Lincoln vs. Cadillac.
Lincoln is on track to selling over half of Cadillac this year, and they are currently lacking competitive (performance/luxury) cars in many key segments unlike Cadillac. It will be interesting to see what happens now that MKCs are making it to the dealerships and the next MKX coming soon. It must be giving some car enthusiasts aneurysms that the “tarted up Fusion” (MKZ) is outselling both the ATS and CTS YTD.
I wonder what actual transaction prices look like?
I expected to see huge rebates on he MKZ and the ATS but edmunds.com doens’t show any. Maybe it’s that time of the month and they haven’t posted the latest ones?
I’m sure the average transaction prices for Cadillac are higher (and probably less fleet), but on the other side of the coin most of Cadillacs cars (or at least at the ones enthusiasts care about) are on unique platforms or platforms only shared with other low volume cars. Lincoln, on the other hand, is sharing them with high volume fusions, escapes, etc.
I suspect that Caddy’s performance for GM is a lot more similar to Lincoln’s (for Ford) than some car people would like to admit.
What I find interesting is how through the wall of my complete indifference to the luxury segment I still can’t help but register the number of new Lincolns I see on the road. That grill was styling genius if instant recognition is any measure.
I live in central WI, there’s a stadium with a small town attached a little ways east of me called Green Bay and except for football Sundays we’re as flyover as you can get and still have utilities. But I see that baleen face all over the place.
Me so perplexed. I wonder how many you see in the developed world.
Well one does have to keep in mind that rebadged Fords are sold as Lincolns while rebadged Chevies are sold as Buicks.
The only long term strategy for GM is to move Cadillac up a level with dedicated RWD platforms.
I don’t think any Buick sold in the USA is a rebadged Chevy.
Huh? The Verano is a rebadged Cruze. The Lacrosse is a rebadged Impalla.
The Impala is a “rebadged” Lacrosse not the other way around.
The Verano is also supposed to be closer to the Astra than the Cruze.
Opel Astra, same platform though.
The Lacrosse is also on the same platform as the Impala but its not a rebadge.
Platform sharing =/= Rebadge
“Platform sharing =/= Rebadge”
Is that reality of marketing speak? Is a ES350 a rebadged Avalon? Is an MDX a rebadged Pilot?
Thank you! A “rebadge” is not the same as a shared platform. There are no rebadged Chevrolets being sold as Buicks. And only the Mark LT (yes they still make that), Navigator and MKX are “rebadged” Fords. Now maybe the Lincolns still don’t have much differentiation from their plebeian brethren in terms of interfaces and details…but they aren’t all “rebadged” Fords.
I’m an admitted Ford enthusiast who contributed to a Ford sale in the month of May and currently drives a Lincoln MKZ. It will likely in a few years be traded in on another MKZ. My wife and I both find the new one to be quite a looker “in the steel.” I’m glad to see their sales are up and the MKC (which is also a good looking vehicle) is sure to boost that even further. More sales will allow Lincoln time and money to correct other issues (the MKS, which shares a lot of its problems with the Taurus and the platform it rides on), and a full update of the Navigator (though I do think they made the most of what they were given in the latest refresh).
The MKZ is something that I might buy. I am not, however, impressed with the MKC’s interior, and for that reason it is off of my list. It’s boring in some areas and downright awkward in others (particularly the center stack). It literally looks like they phoned that area in…a shame, since the outside of the car looks so handsome.
It’s gratifying to see Mazda doing ok. They have some really solid product right now, and haven’t reaped the dividends they “should” for it.
I hope some heads are going to roll at VW AG HQ over the shameful VWoA product mix; those pathetic numbers aren’t going to improve any time soon.
Basically VW is missing in action for crossovers — and the Golf/GTI product gap, which is about to get filled. Otherwise they cover the car segments, although their competitors have fresher product now.
On the other hand, Audi keeps selling better: it appears that the new A3 is a winner.
I’m shocked at how the A3 is universally praised but no one has a good thing to say about the CLA. From a corporate strategy perspective how does a turd like that get released?
“I hope some heads are going to roll at VW AG HQ over the shameful VWoA product mix…”
That’s funny. In the real world, that’s what would happen. In the world of German engineers, there’s nothing wrong with the cars or the product mix – it’s all OUR fault. Only Ferdinand Piech has an inkling that VW management doesn’t understand the American market. The rest are too deluded to realize it. Nothing will change until Piech figures it out himself and gives his underlings a clue.
I, too, am glad to see Mazda moving some metal. But I do not understand what they are doing. Every Mazda store has the same problem – dozens of 3`s, but only a handful of 6`s. It`s been this way for years. And it`s not like the roads are full of 6`s, either. They just do not seem to want to sell more of them.
Great! Now we have 16.8 million more planet killing units in the US, not to mention all the new commercial vehicles and all the old existing vehicles.
Lets see, each gallon of fuel we burn, produces 18 pounds of pollutants. 16.8M X 18pds. daily = a growing disaster. Well, some scientists believe it is already too late. Might as well party hardy to the end.
Now where is the order info for the new ‘overweight(?)’ Mustang
Either you are sarcastic or you fail to realize the attrition rate for vehicles. Cities and states are also pretty upset about the fuel tax deprivation that all of the new, more fuel efficient vehicles are causing. I think they would like the old gas guzzling vehicles to stay on the road, but they are breaking down and going to the scrap yard.
Yet all of them are cleaner than last year’s model.
I see cars that are 100x cleaner than anything built 40 years ago, fewer road deaths, lots of employed auto workers, and happy customers.
Just what is the growing disaster you see?
I’ve posted the numbers before but the number of registered vehicles is pretty stable if new cars are being sold other are going to the cruncher.
Don’t get yourself all worked up – the planet can take care of itself. We’re just bottom feeders kicking up the muck at the bottom of an ocean of air. The land under our feet is mere dozens of miles thick and floating on a thousand mile plus thick layer of molten magma that can punch through in one of many super volcanoes that can fill the air with more debris in a week than we can in several lifetimes. The idea that we can bring the planet to its knees is the biggest conceit of mankind.
Some believe that word might not mean what you think it means. On the other hand, you’ll be relieved I’m doing my part by hanging on to my ’96, ’99, & ’04. I’m doing it for the children.
Hey Debbie Downer, thanks for chiming in on an auto enthusiast site.
I think this is great news! Borrowing money costs next to nothing (for most people) and the increase in sales of cars and housing is a boost to the economy. What’s not to like?
After the November election we’ll be back into uncertainty, rancor and strife with a do nothing government for another year. Better enjoy the good times while the getting is good.
Yep. I remember the days where a “good” car loan was 7%. I happily signed for 72 months at 1.94% and have the safest, newest, most capable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Check out Maserti! Wonder if that Super Bowl ad had anything to do with it?
People in my office were really talking about that car the day after, though even being the “affordable” Maserati it was still out of the range of all but our senior managers. I saw several of them when I was in Kansas City this weekend.
Three thoughts:
1) Will Chrysler (FCA) overtake Toyota to become the third largest anytime soon? Maybe if the 200 actually sells? Alfa/Maserati plans work?
2) Speaking of Maserati, why is it not included in FCA/Chrysler Group’s total sales figures?
3) Has anybody else noticed the near tie between Audi, Cadillac, and Acura for 4th place among luxury makes? Audi has all the momentum so unless some of Cadillacs new products gain speed I wouldn’t be surprised to see Audi become #4.
One more thought:
The Jaguar F-Type not selling well leaving Jaguar’s US ambitions in disarray.
I believe Maserati “belongs” to Ferrari, outside of Fiat Auto SpA, so neither them or Ferrari are reported together with FCA.
No. Maserati is separate entity. Like Ferrari.
The difference is that Fiat owns 100% Maserati and 85% Ferrari.
Yes. Both Maserati and Ferarri are outside FCA.
Go creative financing go! Choo choo.
@bnolt–I am doing my part for conservation as well by keeping my 99 running–conserving that precious resource that is within my wallet.