Detroit Three rise, Honda and Toyota fall in July (Excluding 4 brands GM dropped, up 25%)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100803/BUSINESS01/100803080/1319/Detroit-Three-rise-Honda-and-Toyota-fall-in-July-sales-results

Posted: 7:08 p.m. Aug. 3, 2010

By GREG GARDNER FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Strong sales of new models, pickup trucks and brisk demand from commercial fleets helped Detroit’s three automakers post slightly better sales in July.

In contrast, sales for Toyota and Honda fell 3.2% and 2%, respectively. A year earlier they benefitted more than the Detroit Three from the government’s cash for clunkers rebate program which began in the last week of July 2009.

• Auto sales scoreboard.

“Toyota and Honda are also being affected by the big incentives they offered earlier this year, which pulled ahead sales considerably,” said analyst Aaron Bragman of IHS Automotive in Northville.

Overall industry sales rose 5.2%, weaker than forecasters expected.

“We know this is the slowest recovery we’ve seen in our adult lives, but it is a recovery," said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas.

Snip: General Motors’ sales rose 5.4% from a year earlier, while Ford’s edged up 3.1% and Chrysler’s improved 5%. Excluding four brands GM discontinued or sold — Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab — its July sales climbed 25%.

FULL 2 page story at link.