Trend brewing in Southern California reveals ominous signs for Big 3 auto manufacturers

Trend brewing in Southern California reveals ominous signs for Big 3 auto manufacturers
The Spies say ALL the key automotive trends begin in Southern California and this one CAN'T be good for the US manufacturers...

Sales at luxury car maker Lincoln dropped 40 percent in San Diego County last year. Sales of vehicles by GMC dropped nearly 24 percent in the county last year. Sales dropped 21 percent for Ford, 19 percent for Jeep, 18 percent for Chevrolet, 14 percent for Buick, 13 percent for Mercury and 11 percent for Cadillac.

“The reality is that (Ford's) market share is shrinking and that it probably won't rebound to where it once was,” said John McCallen, president of Pearson Ford. “Our market share has shrunk. Even the size of our facilities is down, and our personnel have had to adjust.”

On the other hand, sales of subcompact cars and standard midsize cars – especially imports – rose sharply last year.

Toyota, which sells the most vehicles in San Diego County and in California, saw a 14 percent rise in countywide sales last year. As a result, Toyota's market share rose from 22 percent to 25 percent, while second-place Ford's dropped from 13.8 percent to 13.0 percent.

Last year, imports made up more than 62 percent of new car sales in San Diego County, compared with about 51 percent nationwide. Nevertheless, sales for many imports slid last year, led by Isuzu, Saab, Volvo and Nissan. Of 35 brands on the market, only four increased their sales: foreign-owned Toyota, Porsche and Land Rover and domestic Saturn.


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EvoAudiEvoAudi - 4/22/2007 5:37:09 PM
-3 Boost
saturn is not domestic, its a gm owned mix of opel, vauxhall, holden, buick, chevy, and izuzu.


2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 4/22/2007 8:00:11 PM
+4 Boost
Izusu is not partially owned by GM anymore,Toyota owns the shares that GM owned,and Saturn is domestic!!


EvoAudiEvoAudi - 4/22/2007 11:14:59 PM
0 Boost
what i meant was the design.


RupertRupert - 4/22/2007 7:30:05 PM
+2 Boost
Why does the Chrysler billboard in the picture say Plymouth on it? When did they last make those?
And look, there's an Aztek in that picture without vomit on it!

Oh and Lincoln sales are declining because Lincolns are garbage.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 4/22/2007 7:42:48 PM
+3 Boost
Either A) that's an old picture (the Aztek isn't sold any more- as far as I know, Plymouth was still in business when the Aztek came out) or B) that's a used Aztek and the Plymouth sign is for the very few who still own Plymouths and need to get them serviced.


Bmw8terBmw8ter - 4/22/2007 8:44:37 PM
0 Boost
If you go down to south Florida, you'll still see the old Plymouth signs at the Chrysler and Dodge dealerships. I think they leave them up there more for nostalgic purposes. There are actually quite a few people running around with Plymouth Breezes and Expressos(Neons).

You can spot the Expressos from a mile away because most of them still running around, are that funky light plum looking color the seems to be devoid of any clearcoat.


neutralneutral - 4/23/2007 12:28:03 AM
+1 Boost
Lincoln MKZ is really nice, so is the MKX (although it isnt my favorite).

Also, just wait for the new 2008 CTS to come on the stage. That and if Cadillac ever upgrades the STS interior to that of the SLS in china....things should change. Chrysler and Ford still have a bit of work to do, but I believe that GM is well on its way back to old glory.

Also, people in California and "trendy" and "cool". Buying American isn't "cool" enough for them. Whimsidaisical sissies.


neutralneutral - 4/23/2007 12:28:53 AM
+3 Boost
Correction, I meant to say "People in California ARE" ...not "and".




RupertRupert - 4/23/2007 9:53:51 AM
+1 Boost
Oh sorry I thought they stopped making Plymouths like 20 years ago.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 4/22/2007 10:03:52 PM
0 Boost
I predict as follows: Chrysler will be bought by investors other than Magna only to be dismantled for a quick profit. Ford will be bought out or simply go under. GM will make a complete comeback and survive as a major world player. I am not surprised that Ford's Lincoln brand suffers. The Grand Marquis is esentially the same car but a much more cost-seffective purchase. Today's luxury car buyers are more savvy than their counterparts of past decades. They don't just buy the brand any more because car brands have a record of failure to deliver what they promise. Just watch how Hyundai's new luxury Equuis sales will take off once that car is launched in the U.S.; and that from a company that used to produce cars whose bumpers fell off at the slightest impact (I saw that on 60 Minutes years ago). The Big 3 should have paid more attention to delivering on the promise of their brand instead of cutting corners for the sake of financial statements.


EL34EL34 - 4/22/2007 10:07:20 PM
+2 Boost
The Ford 500 is a good lookin' car, a real winner!


LyallLyall - 4/23/2007 1:42:24 AM
+1 Boost
Neutral,
People in California aren't stupid. They buy cleaners cars than people from any other state- including of course yours. To say-" buy American", even if it is garbage like Lincoln, GM or Chrysler- is to abuse the American spirit in the most un-American way possible. The true American (and Californian) spirit is to embrace excellence- which probably explains why California is also the world's 6th largest economy- and your state probably doesn't have one to start with.


lewissalemlewissalem - 4/23/2007 5:21:52 PM
+1 Boost
It's true. California is superior to my State. I hate my state and wish I could be like you.


izfuneyizfuney - 4/23/2007 2:46:19 AM
+1 Boost
Not a surprise at all. Frankly, its not even the products that domestic sell its their lousy dealership attitude. A friend was looking to a buy a new car, and she called the local Ford dealership only to hang up the phone in disgust. The person on the other end was horribly rude and was like give us your Name and social security before we even talk price.
Well .. she went and bought a Hyundai :)



automanticautomantic - 4/23/2007 11:07:17 AM
+2 Boost
Trends... especially in automotive... start in California because it is the largest market in the world; beating out the next two states in sales combined to lead the USA in sales. Trends start here because of necessity. All of our cities, except San Francisco, were engineered with heavily influenced Detroit money and now it comes home to roost. Californians have to drive to live. There is no other choice.

Since all auto companies are now global, none can be called "domestic" unless they build and employ Americans. That would make Toyota the leader there as well. If you know the industry, you know that GM began moving to China a couple of years ago. Having said that, most parts are foreign made regardless.

By the way... Saturn was designed in the US.

:{)- Automantic


chuck717chuck717 - 4/23/2007 1:04:53 PM
+1 Boost
A drive on a California or for that matter SW cities in general freeways tells the tale. Almost every car is something other then a Detroit MFG. You see everything from econo Mazda's to the most luxury foreign cars in the South West, i would venture to say other then trucks and very large SUV's the US auto makers (sad but true)would hardly be missed if they folded yesterday?



no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 4/24/2007 12:19:22 PM
+1 Boost
The northeast has traditonally bought more foreign makes then the west coast. It has always been that way.


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