Jeep is not for the USA

Cheap gasoline helped American automakers

American car companies almost simultaneously announced strong sales in October. In total, 1.2 million cars were sold on the domestic market last month, which is 6.1% more than in October 2005. SUVs and pickups were especially in demand, sales of which increased by 33.2%.

The world's largest automaker, General Motors, became the sales leader. In October of this year, the company sold 17.3% more cars than in October last year, which turned out to be unsuccessful for all automakers in the United States. Ford Motor, the second largest company in the United States, increased sales by 8%. At the same time, in the passenger car segment, sales volume increased by 22%, although this result is largely explained by the sale of the 2006 model range.

The results of DaimlerChrysler were slightly worse, whose sales fell by 1.6% and could have been even lower if not for support from Mercedes Benz.

In recent years, the largest American automobile corporations have lost a significant part of both the North American and global markets. In the context of constantly rising fuel prices, once popular SUVs have become too expensive for consumers, and companies have not been able to painlessly rebuild their conveyors. Japanese competitors took over the baton. Toyota increased sales by 9.2%, Nissan by 3.9%. At the second largest Japanese concern Honda Motor Co., on the contrary, sales volume decreased by 0.3%.

American cars, despite fierce competition from Asian cars, are still the most popular in the United States. Such results were unexpected after the long-term stagnation of the local automobile industry. Industry analysts attributed the gains to a 25% drop in U.S. fuel costs, rather than the rise in popularity of the "big car" that Americans are conservatively buying. “We can now say with confidence that this is not a return to the Jeep era,” Paul Beaulieu, head of General Motors' global market research unit, told the AP. “The pressure (from Asian manufacturers - Ed. ), which really reduces demand for American cars, weakened significantly when a gallon of fuel began to cost $2.20.”

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The most popular car brands in the USA based on sales results in January-October 2006 Car 2006 2005 Place in the ranking for 2005 2006/2005,%

1. Ford F-Series pickup	672,732	749,094	1	-10.2
2. Chevy Silverado-C/K pickup	539.310	599.577	2	-10.1
3. Toyota Camry	374,717	368,672	3	+1.6
4. Toyota Corolla / Matrix	330,995	292.296	6	+13.2
5. Dodge Ram P/U (pickup)	303.476	343,898	4	-11.8
6.Honda Accord	302,067	319.375	5	-5.4
7.Honda Civic	272,886	257,749	7	+5.9
8. Chevrolet Impala	240,297	201,238	13	+19
9.Nissan Altima	189.422	221,769	9	-14.6
10. Chevrolet Cobalt	187,330	182,332	15	+2.7
11. Dodge Caravan	182,805	194,408	12	-6.0
12. GMC Sierra pickup	177,813	196,374	10	-9.5
13. Ford Taurus	168,746	173,659	16	-2.8
14. Ford Explorer	155.246	209,000	8	-25.7
15. Ford Focus	152.242	164,041	17	-7.2
16. Ford Econoline/Club Wagon	152,053	150,011	21	+1.4
17.Honda Odyssey	150,550	145.755	20	+3.3
18. Chevrolet TrailBlazer	148,497	204,874	11	-27.5
19. Ford Mustang	145,055	139,719	24	+3.8
20. Chevrolet Malibu	144.207	175.229	18	-17.7

Source: REUTERS

Denis UVAROV