Complain about a product or service

Imports Beat Domestic Auto Sales Through May

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 24, 2006

• Saab Story: Swedish Carmaker Walks Away from GM Deal • GM, Chrysler Hope Incentives Will Boost Sagging Sales • Auto Bailout Chief: GM's CEO Had To Go • Taxpayers Unlikely To Recover Full Auto Industry Investment --- • More about Auto Sales ...

It wasn't too long ago that Ford and GM were arguing about who was No. 1 in sales. There's no argument anymore. Foreign-based auto brands captured more than 50 percent of U.S. sales to consumers in the first five months of 2006 according to the latest vehicle registration data from R.L. Polk & Co.

If the trend holds up 2006 will be the first year in which foreign-based auto brands have surpassed traditional domestic brands in U.S. retail sales.

Through May, 52.9 percent of the new vehicles registered by buyers were import brands, up from 49.0 percent a year earlier.

Retail registrations of domestic brands totaled 2,554,636 through May, down 7.2 percent compared with the same period in 2005. During the same time, registrations of import brands rose 8.2 percent to 2,864,409 units.

The move up for the retail share of foreign brands is quite sharp while the downturn has hit Detroit across the board.

Lincoln and Hummer are the only domestic brands that brought in higher retail sales through May.

The six import winners were Toyota, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes and Suzuki.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |