Ford Dropped to 4th Place in Market Share Last Month

The New York Times ^ | December 2, 2006 | Nick Bunkley

[Zakeet]

DETROIT, Dec. 1 — Sales by the Ford Motor Company declined even more last month than its management had expected.

The company fell into fourth place in November for the first time in its history, behind Toyota Motor of Japan and the German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler, figures released Friday show.

Ford sold 10 percent fewer vehicles than it did a year ago, sending its market share in the United States down to 14.8 percent from 16.9 percent last November, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.

By contrast, Toyota’s sales increased 16 percent, giving it a market share of 16.5 percent, while DaimlerChrysler, which includes the Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz, sold 5 percent more vehicles to earn a share of 15.6 percent. General Motors is the largest automaker, with a share of 24.6 percent.

Ford’s numbers were particularly disappointing because they were being compared with last November, one of the worst months in company history, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cut demand for trucks as gas prices spiked.

[PAR35]

Toyota always will have a problem selling in rural American.

Toyota is developing a model to pair large urban dealers with small sales/service sites in smaller area. The small sales operations would carry almost no inventory.

[JSteff]

I looked it up on the 'net and found several places where it said it stood for "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD". However if I recall a friend I used to work with at a Toyota dealership was at the dealer introduction and I recall it stood for something else.

The "4" did stand for 4wd, but the first part was different. In 1994 when it was introduced I recall it was based on a Celica chassis and had the same 1.8 4cyl that was standard on the Celica.

If I also recall right it was made like the Toyota Starlet which Toyota made by picking parts from it's records that were the most reliable. If the car takes off it becomes it's own model and future renditions are designed uniquely.

Toyota has done this several times in it's history. The Cressida was made using the 6cyl Land Cruiser engine in a 4 door sedan.

I think I remember the Corona was made around the same 4 cyl engine as in the HI-Lux pickup. Toyota started as a small truck company and their history is building on their past successes.

Anyway, if I can get a hold of my friend who originally told me about the RAV4 I will find out the original meaning of RAV4 and reach you.

[Straight Vermonter]

The caliber???

I still have not seen one on the road.

[Alia]

I don't try to fight in such urges, except to get the best bang for my buck. I try to always make my purchases "local", nonetheless. But if my local merchant is charging twice as much for a given item, I'll find it elsewhere. And if that item is manufactured in Afghanistan, or China, I'll purchase it -- and those dollars will circulate into the US economy.

[american_ranger]

My wife had a Honda a few years ago, it was made in Ohio and had over 70% of the parts made in the US. By contrast as friend of mine just bought a new Dodge truck, it was and its engine were made in Mexico. To my way of thinking the Honda was American made the Dodge isn't.

My wife"s 2006 Mustang has 70% of it's parts made outside of the USA. The Toyota trucks made in Princeton, Indiana have more than 70% of their parts made in the USA. I agree that buying USA made vehicles is not just a choice of buying Ford, GM, or Chrysler (Which is now a European company.)