November Auto Sales: No Surprises

Record setting fuel prices, the "subprime" financial bubble, and rapidly depreciating real estate have U.S. consumers downsizing.

The car industry's annual sales rate for November was an estimated 15.9 million vehicles, below the average for 2007.

As predicted here, light trucks and SUVs posted sales declines. Luxury cars were flat to slow.

Compact cars scored market share gains.

Honda

Honda posted the biggest sales improvement, moving 111,431 vehicles for a 4.7% increment over November last year. Sales of the new 2008 Accord, at 28,161 units, were up 25% over November 2006 Accord numbers.

Honda Civic also posted a 25% gain for the month. Not surprisingly, Honda's frugal Fit subcompact car doubled sales over last November.

Toyota

Toyota Motors, now ensconced as the number two US auto retailer, reported relatively flat November numbers, up just 0.3% at 197,189 vehicles.

Camry, still America's favorite car, sold 35,409 copies, up 3.6% for a November record.

The Prius hybrid, at 16,737 iterations, also posted a November sales record.

Nissan

Nissan North American division sales were 80,683 vehicles, up 6.1% for a November record.

Nissan Altima sales rose nearly 9% to 19,811 vehicles, the new Rogue crossover did 5,650 units in its second month on the market.

The thrifty Versa subcompact had a 67% year-over-year increase. .

Infiniti luxury brand sales were up 2%, with G-series sedans selling 4,399 units, up 4.0% for a November sales record.

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor America posted a 12% November sales gain over last year.

Sonata, with 11,831 sold, and Santa Fe with 7,374, both tacked up 41% annual gains.

Hyundai sold 31,883 vehicles in the U.S. in November, up from with 28,417 in 2006. Hyundai Accent sold 19% more units than the previous November.

GM

Retail sales fell 9.7%, while the General posted a 16% drop in fleet sales.

GM's decline came after three consecutive monthly gains.

Sales of light trucks fell 15% to 156,196 units.

Ford

Ford Motor Co. recorded a 0.4% increase after 12 straight months of falling sales. Ford's sales have fallen 12% in 2007 to date.

New products boosted Ford sales: the new Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX sport-utility twins did well.

The redesigned Ford Focus was up 18 percent.

Ford's low profit sales to rental car fleets fell 6% while sales to individual retail customers were off only 3%.

Sales of Ford's F-Series pickup, still the nation's best-selling vehicle, dropped 12%.

Chrysler

Chrysler LLC reported November U.S. sales of 161,088 vehicles, off 2% from the same period last year.

Chrysler's truck sales fell 13% to 113,417 units in November from 130,796 a year ago.

Dodge brand sales increased 6%, Chrysler brand sales fell 13%, and Jeep brand sales declined 2%, compared to last November.

Market pressures will accelerate in 2008, projected to deliver the worst annual sales results in a decade.

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