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Imports Beat Domestic Auto Sales Through May

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 24, 2006

• Auto Bailout Chief: GM's CEO Had To Go • Taxpayers Unlikely To Recover Full Auto Industry Investment • GMAC Changing Name to Ally Bank • New Car Sales Show Improvement From May • April Dismal For U.S. And Foreign Carmakers • Chrysler Files for Bankruptcy, GMAC Takes Over Financing • Auto Sales Stagnant, But Hope Appears • What Would a Chrysler Bankruptcy Mean For You? • U.S. Carmakers Getting More Federal Aid • GM Cuts More Jobs, Eyes China • New Car Sales Plunge in February • Car Buyers Seeking Higher Fuel Economy • Video: Do Women Really Hate Car Shopping? • GM Plans New Minicar, Electric Cadillac • GMAC Becomes a Bank • White House to Loan Carmakers $17.4 Billion • Chrysler Closing Car Plants for 30 Days • What Would a Washington-Designed Car Industry Look Like? • States Want Stronger Used Car Rule • Industry Troubles Cloud LA Car Show • Carmakers Get Neither Love Nor Money From Congress • Taxpayers Headed For Automotive Bailout • Time May Be Running Short for U.S. Carmakers • Feds Move Closer to Carmaker Bailout • New-Vehicle Buyers Turn to the Web in Record Numbers --- • 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.

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