Free Republic

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. auto sales tumbled in May as buyers fled from pickups and sport utility vehicles in the face of average gas prices that are now just shy of $4 a gallon. The trouble hit not only U.S. automakers General Motors (GM, Fortune 500), Ford Motor and Chrysler LLC -- which have long depended on sales of pickups and SUVs -- but also trimmed the sales of their top Japanese rival Toyota Motor (TM). But other Asian automakers held up reasonably well. Nissan (NSANY) reported a narrow sales gain while Honda Motor (HMC) and Kia rode American...

Cannot be posted due to copyright issues: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/usa-2008-the-great-depression-803095.html

Ford Motor Co. posted a 9% drop in U.S. sales of cars and light trucks for December, closing out a weak year for the company and the auto industry. The auto maker said so-called fleet sales fell 1%, while retail sales fell 13%. Improving retail sales is central to Ford's restructuring plan as the company cuts sales to rental car companies and other mass buyers to focus on higher-margin sales to dealerships. Ford, which has slipped to the No. 3 U.S. auto maker by sales, behind Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., said it sold 210,855 light vehicles in December, compared with...

Losing the small-car market to foreign manufacturers was easy. In the past half-century, Detroit never built great small cars or great 4-cylinder motors, never thought of little cars as a profit center and just did not like them. It is understandable how the Europeans first, then the Japanese and now the Koreans grabbed this business. What is more puzzling is how those foreigners took the top and the middle of the American car market. I am talking about near luxury, the luxury and the ultra-luxury segments--the cars with the big profits. Ever since the demise of marques like Cord and...

PRAGUE, June 12, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- When it was formed in 2001, the General Motors-AvtoVAZ joint venture was considered a major step toward economic revival in postcommunist Russia. The marriage of the American and Russian automotive giants has for the most part been successful. But cracks in the relationship emerged after AvtoVAZ was taken over by the Russian state last year. Now, with General Motors expected to announce on June 13 the construction of its own independent assembly plant, some are wondering if the partnership is meant to last.

Did anyone hear Bob Brinker yesterday? I heard snippets, but was unable to hear the whole program. I am curious as to what his take on the current General Motors situation is. I wonder at some point will the situation foster his "model" to change his sentiment as to the direction of the market.