Automotive News senior editor: Truck and SUV sales are hurting but not done for
Big vehicles - including minivans, SUVs, pick-ups - are selling worse now than they were at this point in 2006. John K. Teahen Jr., senior editor at Automotive News, says (subs req'd) that while sales are sluggish "the market is alive and well and will continue that way for as long as anyone cares to forecast."Specifically, Teahen writes, the 9.2 percent drop in pickup, van and SUV sales in the first seven months of 2007 vs. 2006 are "not good in view of the increases of recent years but certainly not a cause for alarm." Small trucks (Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma) are fell more than the big ones (Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F series). The reason? "I think the smaller trucks are novelties that are purchased by city residents who ought to be driving sedans. Perhaps many of those buyers have returned to sedans or have switched to station wagons - oops, crossovers," Teahen writes. He also lays into SUVs, so if you've got a subscription to AN and want to read that part of the column, click on over.
Teahen is quite right about (most) city dwellers not needing a truck, but with car sharing, scooters and so many smaller cars (fortwo, anyone?) coming to the market, even sedans might seem outrageous for most city folk in the not-too-distant future.
[Source: John K. Teahen Jr. / Automotive News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben K. 8:03PM (8/17/2007)
Mr. Teahen is absolutely right, it took vans fifteen years to fall from their pinnacle and SUV's are no different. Crossovers will take up the slack, while pickups won't be affected as much since there is no substitute for cargo and towing capacity. Hybrids make up less than 3% of the market. The Prius ranked fifth in safety among the most popular hybrid models. The sky is not falling chicken little. Small cars aren't practical for families and safety is a top priority on most consumers list.
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ug 11:14PM (8/17/2007)
I really don't know people are managing to pay their adjustable rate mortgages and fill the pump of their SUVs at the same time. Eventually something's got to give. Maybe when gas is $6 a gallon and the country has formally entered a recession?
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mlhm5 9:38AM (8/18/2007)
With Ford and GM bankrupt, having a slowdown in sales in the only profitable vehicles i.e. pickups and SUVs means Ford and GM may actually have to declare bankruptcy or undergo a massive "restructuring" that amounts to the same thing sooner rather than later if this trend continues.
Toyota, however, is not having a slowdown in the sales of its vehicles. The sales of the Tundras were up 134% over same month of 2006 and all pickups were up 13.4%.
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Darryl 1:15AM (1/09/2008)
does that mean that the sales in SUV and truck accessories such as body lifts, would also drop?
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Darryl 1:17AM (1/09/2008)
does that mean that the sales in SUV and truck accessories such as body lifts, would also drop? http://body-lifts-4you.com/
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