SUVs, pickups among top sellers under clunker deal

[Romulox]

Source: Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON – Sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks were more popular than previously believed under the Obama administration's cash-for-clunkers program, with three truck models among the top 10 sellers, according to a Free Press review of new federal data.

...

Using data released by the government this weekend, the Free Press’ analysis found that while the top four vehicles were the same in both lists -- the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Ford Focus – the Ford Escape SUV was the fifth-most popular vehicle overall, with 21,894 sold.

The Honda CR-V ranked just behind the Escape with 20,106, while the Chevrolet Silverado pickup came in ninth with 16,330 sold. The Silverado and the Ford F-150 both outsold the Toyota Prius hybrid, which ranked seventh in the government’s tally, but 15th in the Free Press’ version.


Read more: http://freep.com/article/20090921/BUSINESS01/90921033/1319/SUVs--pickups-among-top-sellers-under-clunker-deal

---

Also from the story: "The data confirmed that foreign automakers were the big winners from the plan, with Detroit automakers claiming just 38.9% of the sales submitted."

[sharp_stick]

1. As long as the mileage fit the bill

it doesn't really matter what sells.

The CRV and Escape are pretty weak calls as SUV's as well, hell my full size sedan dwarfs them both.

In addition, I hope Detroit can start to work it's way out of the mess they've been in over last 20 years but there's a lot of work to be done. It takes a long time to convince people that the quality is back up, I know it is but there is still an incorrect perception that the good high mileage cars produced by the "big" 3 are all as bad as Chevette and Sprint.

[robinlynne]

2. just 40% of 3 billion dollars. how terrible for us. just terrible.

sarcasm emoticon here.
now those foreign owned were all made by US workers, yes?

I prefer toyota made by US workers to american products made in china, don't you?

[Romulox]

3. You are simply not correct: "now those foreign owned were all made by US workers, yes?"

No.

[robinlynne]

4. how not? Toyota and Hondas are made here in the US.

[Romulox]

5. Some are. Not all. And there was no requirement in the bill that they be made in the US.

For example, the Prius is not made in the US. :hi:

[FarCenter]

7. It was interesting that the Ford Fusion was not on the UAW's list of union made vehicles

Apparently they are built on Hermosillo, Mexico.

Although it appears that the workers belong to the Mexican union, it's not considered a real union by the UAW?

[Romulox]

8. I don't belong to, or speak for, the UAW, but I will wager a guess...

They probably define "union" to mean one which provides comparable benefits and worker protections to those provided by the UAW. Many workers belong to "unions" which countenance 80 + hour work weeks, for example.

[robinlynne]

10. right. but what about all the others? The point is made in the US is more valuable than made by a US

corporation.

[robinlynne]

11. I think this question goes to the entire economy. What is the use of supporting American corporation

corporations who outsource? My Honda was made in the US. It is a "foreign car". Hershey bars are now made in mexico. Is a Hershey bar more "American"?

[Romulox]

12. The bill in question required neither, though. The results are tabulated and available.

I often find that when this subject comes up, people would rather talk about speculations and blanket statements about where something could have been made.

That's not how this works.

[robinlynne]

14. You ARE saying foreign cars made 60%. Poor US manufacturers. . I'm saying

not the owner of the corporation, but who MAKES the cars is what matters.

[Romulox]

15. Why should ANY of my taxpayer $$$ go to stimulate the Japanese, Korean economies?

Regardless if it is 1%?

"but who MAKES the cars is what matters."

Right. And a large number of the cars bought under C4C were MADE in Japan and South Korea. Why should that percentage be any greater than zero, especially where these cars are allowed virtually unfettered access to the US market under the doctrine of "free trade" in the first place? :hi:

[blue_onyx]

13. None of the US automakers make vehicles in China for the US market

Also, some of the foreign vehicles made in the US have less US content that foreign made vehicles from the Big 3. For example, the Hyundai Sonata only has 37% domestic content while the Mexican built Ford Fusion has 40%. The Ford Fusion has even increased its domestic content to 55% for the 2009 model year (the 2009 Hyundai numbers weren't posted so I used 2008 figures).

[FarCenter]

6. August 2009 and 2008 sales data

                         August 2008     August 2009      % Change
Autos, domestic            201,672         206,632           2.5 %
Autos, imports             427,275         520,302          21.8
Light trucks, domestic     364,793         307,656         -15.7
Light trucks, imports      256,053         227,387         -11.2

So domestic auto sales were flat from a year ago, while import autos increased significantly. Also note that import autos is now the largest category by a wide margin, since domestic light trucks slipped badly.

[Romulox]

9. I would like some "free trader" to TRY to untangle this knot...

How can we reconcile demanding competition in the "free market" with aggressive government intervention? :shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

16. Much as I abhor SUV's the rules are such that the benefit is even greater where SUVs were purchased.

If the new vehicle got 18 mpg, for example, the clunker had to get 8 mpg or worse.

Thus, the benefit in consumption and carbon emissions is Three Times Greater for this single example than for an example of a 28 mpg purchase for 18 mpg clunker.

I love DU member "Statistical":

To get $4500 on an 18mpg vehicle the old vehicle would need to be <=8 mpg.

12,000 miles @ 8mpg = 1500 gallons
12,000 miles @ 18mpg = 667 gallons
Savings 883 gallons (55%)

Compare that to higher mpg vehicle
12,000 miles @ 18mpg = 667 gallons
12,000 miles @ 28mpg = 429 gallons
Savings 238 gallons (35%)

The govt gets better "carbon for the buck" in the lower mpg example.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6294504#6294765

:P