Edward caught this flying over the skies of Detroit this morning.

There’s no love lost between carmudgeon Peter Delorenzo and GM’s failed Car Czar, the exec whose singular inability to create compelling branding or class-leading products helped transform the world’s largest automaker into a nationalized welfare queen. No wait. Sorry. The self-styled Autoextremist hates the United Auto Workers (UAW). And now that the UAW has rejected a contract with Ford that would have given it parity with post-C11 GM and Chrysler, Sweet Pete has unleashed the dogs of demagoguery. “Wait a minute, wasn’t it the rampant wage and benefit increases over the last three decades that contributed immeasurably to the domestic auto industry’s demise? And yes, it took two parties to make those deals, but really? After everything that has transpired in the last year the union is still clinging to the notion that they actually have a dog in this hunt when it comes to getting this industry off of the ground again? That somehow, some way, when things get all back to normal again they can go right back to the “M.O.” that helped bring this industry to its knees in the first place? I’ve got one word for the UAW and its behavior: Reprehensible.” DeLorenzo’s ire is not entirely misplaced, but it’s close . . .

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Not taking a page out of Audi’s playbook, Toyota has decided that the best defense is a strong offense. The risk of the accelerator getting jammed is strictly a problem of unintended loose or ill-fitting floor mats, according to Toyota Bob Carter, general manager of the Toyota-brand division of Toyota Motor Sales USA. Letters are on the way to owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models warning them about the errant mats as part of a safety recall. More certainty after the jump: Read More >

GM’s last minute (i.e. post-German election) decision to pull out of a deal to sell its European Opel division to a consortium lead by Canada’s Magna Corporation has left chaos in its wake. The Associated Press reports that Opel workers throughout Europe are planning to strike GM on Thursday, protesting the automaker’s planned “rationalization” of  over ten thousand jobs. “IG Metall said workers at Opel’s four German plants would halt work Thursday, followed by similar moves Friday at other Opel locations in Europe.” Meanwhile, German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle vowed “We will get the taxpayers’ money back.” Note: that’s German taxpayers’ money. And there’s only one way the nationalized automaker’s going to pay back that loan: with American taxpayers’ money. Seriously? Seriously. “GM Europe spokesman Karin Kirchner said the company is prepared to repay the euro1.5 billion bridge loan from the German government. ‘If we’re asked, GM will repay the bridge loan in question.'” Uh, that didn’t sound like a “request” to me. And speaking of plain speaking . . .

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Voters in three cities sent a clear message to local lawmakers yesterday by adopting charter amendments that ban photo enforcement. In addition to kicking two camera supporters from the city council, 72 percent of those voting in Chillicothe, Ohio approved a total prohibition on the use of red light cameras and speed cameras. In College Station, Texas the vote was much closer, but at the end of the night 52 percent wanted the red light cameras to come down. In Heath, Ohio 51 percent voted against the cameras. A total of nine cities nationwide have used the initiative process to ban camera enforcement since 1991, with camera proponents never having won a public vote.

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We’re a little short-staffed right now (always?), the boss is on the road, and I’m a little bleary from my first day at the helm, so instead of staying up all night building spreadsheets,I’m going to give all you number junkies the links to the various companies’ press releases and their own detail tables and charts. Please share your thoughtful analysis with the rest of us lazy bums.

GM Ford Chrysler Toyota Honda Nissan Hyundai Subaru Mitsubishi Suzuki  VW Daimler BMW

Update: here’s an excellent set of charts and data at WSJ

We tried, last year. And Edward gave it a good shot. But this year, we have our priorities straight. Instead of gazing admiringly at the world’s largest production pickup truck (32 feet long), Ed is in Detroit peering into Chrysler’s crystal ball. Depending on how that all works out we may be back at SEMA next year. Or we might just stay home.

[pickuptrucks.com]

“I have to be careful on what I say, I don’t want you guys writing a story saying, ‘This Toyota guy thinks the Hyundai Sonata is a great car.'”

—Toyota’s Group VP and General Manager, Bob Carter, responding to a request to comment on the strength of Hyundai as a competitor.

Two days ago, TTAC’s Bertel Schmitt wrote: “GM may not have to sell Opel after all”. How right he was. In the latest twist on the endless Opel saga, GM’s Board of Directors has canceled the planned sale to Magna and Sberbank. With references to an an improving economy (and an uptick in US sales?) and Opel’s strategic importance to the mothership, CEO Fritz Henderson stated: “GM will soon present its restructuring plan to Germany and other governments and hopes for its favorable consideration. We understand the complexity and length of this issue has been draining for all involved.” Magna had no (repeatable) comment. Former bidder RHJ said in October it was no longer interested. Read More >

“I don’t think people here really understood that the work we had been promised was contingent on ratification,” Sterling Axle UAW member Brian Pannebecker told the Detroit News re: the union’s rejection of a new Ford contract. As my step-daughter Sasha is wont to say, “Wow.”

VW posted a 7% increase in October over the same month a year ago. The Rabbit’s fade-out led the negative column, with a 44% decline. The Jetta posted a solid 25% increase. The Passat, down 41%, is giving way to the CC, which is way up at +256%. The CC now outsells the Passat almost 3 to 1. Since the Passat is going away soon in favor of VW’s new USA mid-sedan, and the CC is going to stay, this trend is probably being engineered through incentives (and the lack thereof).

Audi was down 1% overall. 5 is the magic number for Audi: the A5 was up 28%, and the Q5 is already the second best seller in the lineup. Mid-sized crossovers to the rescue! The more larger/more expensive models, such as A8, R8 and Q7, are taking the biggest hits.

BMW Group was the big loser among the Germans, down 19%. Both the BMW brand (-19%) and Mini (-20%) took the hit equally. The 1 series is sinking, with sales down 57%. The new 7 posted a 10% increase. BMW light trucks (that’s a hard couple of words to type) were down disproportionately, especially the X3, down 86%. The lovely X6 managed a 39% increase.

Daimler overall was up 9%, but that was the result of the Smart’s maxi sized decline of 70%. Ouch! Mercedes was up smartly, with +21%, led by the new E-Class, +190%.

Porsche’s 15% increase in October helped reduce their year-to-date totals to -29%.

[NOTE: Picture above is not the original one posted with the story. If the comments confuse you, this is why.]

A TTAC reader who wishes to remain anonymous writes:

I have to buy a 2nd car to be used mostly in the city with short highway trips, my problem is that I have a budget of $7,500.00 since a car payment is not an option at this time.

Clear title, no accident, reasonable mileage and low maintenance cost are high priority, after 2 weeks of detailed search over the internet, I’m down to three cars that I never thought I would be thinking about: 2007 Ford Focus Sedan, 2007 Nissan Sentra and (believe it or not) a 2007/8 Dodge Caliber. The mileage I have seen on this budget varies from 18,000 up to 45,000 miles. By the way, some cars don’t have power windows, which was a shock for me and almost a deal breaker, however, some of these cars have the best mileage and lowest price.

Any thoughts on which would be the best bet?

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The Hyundai knockouts continued unabated in October. Sales in October were up 47% from ’08. Year-to-date totals are up a solid 5%. Total sales for the month were 54k, which is starting to get precariously close to Chrysler’s 66k total for the month. Post to be updated as soon as details for Hyundai and Kia brands are available.

We’ll give you the quick top-line October ’09 vs. ’08 results, and get the details as soon as I catch my breath:

Toyota and Honda sales were both less than 1% changed. Nissan had a 6% boost. Mazda slid 8%. Suzuki was off 50% (in the middle of major product cycle changes).

Stabilization is the word of the day but at still low levels.

[Update]: Mitsubishi joins its other co-declining Japanese soul-mate, Suzuki, with a 48% drop in October.

In its first year-over-year sales increase since January 2008, GM posted a 4% increase in October, and estimates a 21% market share. The four core brands (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac), which now account for 95% of GM sales, were up 11.6%.  Year-to-date totals are down 34%.

Cadillac led the way with a 22% increase, reflecting a 280% increase of the new SRX. CTS was down 27%; STS: -44%; DTS: +19%.

GMC had the second highest increase, with a 20% increase. Terrain: +85%; Sierra: +6%; Acadia: +7%; Yukon/Yukon XL: +72%

Buick came in with a 19% increase, led by LaCrosse, beating its last year’s sales by 103%. Enclave: 38%; Lucerne: -28%

Chevrolet brought up the rear, with a 9% increase. Aveo is still lagging, down 54%. Impala also dragged, down 43%. Malibu was up 11%. Camaro sold just over 8k units, continuing its lead in the pony car field. The new Equinox was up 177%; Colorado: -32%; Traverse sold over 9k units. Silverado pickups held even; Tahoe: +111%; Suburban: +72%.