Labor Day shift hits US light vehicle sales - just-auto.com (registration)
Automakers were reminded of the impact the calendar can have on light vehicle sales here in the US. Labor Day - a key end-of-summer selling day - falls this year on the first Monday (the 7th) in September. In August 2014, it fell on 1 September but was included in the August sales tally. Consequently, total US light vehicle sales last month were off, albeit slightly, down 0. 6% compared to August 2014. However, that was better than expected. Despite almost unanimous predictions that Fiat Chrysler’s long streak of year-over-year growth would end, healthy Jeep sales kept things in the black for what is now 65 consecutive months. Ford reported a much better than predicted 5. 6% gain, thanks to strong light truck sales. The redesigned F-150 truck line is finally coming on strong and the European designed, mostly US-built Transit van rules the LCV market. The General's sales fell 0. 7%, mostly due to a 24. 7% plunge in car sales that swamped double-digit growth in light truck deliveries. Honda's passenger car sales were down 16. 9% last month and they fell 6. 9% at Nissan and 13. 9% at Toyota. Source: www.just-auto.com
