U.S. auto sales slumped in August

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. sold 211,533 vehicles in the month, down 9.4 percent from 233,471 units a year ago.

 

The automaker said sales of its Camry and Camry hybrid sedans rose, and demand for its compact Yaris was up 20.5 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

 

As has been the trend this year, sales of trucks and SUVs slumped. Sales of both cars and trucks were down at Toyota's Lexus luxury division.

 

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said its August sales were off 7.3 percent, to 131,766 units from 141,906 in August 2007. The company said sales of its Civic, Civic Hybrid and Pilot gained.

 

Ford said its August U.S. sales dropped more than 26 percent compared to the same period a year ago, and that it plans to reduce production for the second half of 2008.

 

The Dearborn automaker said it sold 155,690 vehicles in the month, compared to 212,120 in August 2007. SUV sales plunged 53 percent, while the truck and van category was off 38.5 percent. Ford said its compact Focus sedan was in hot demand, with sales up 23 percent, as was the smaller Ford Escape SUV, with demand climbing 17 percent.

 

Ford said it now plans to build 890,000 vehicles in the second half of 2008, cutting another 20,000 units from the third quarter and 30,000 units from fourth-quarter plans. That's in part due to lower sales to daily rental car fleets, the company said, but also due to a lower overall sales forecast.

 

'We expect the second half of 2008 will be more challenging than the first half, as weak economic conditions and the consumer credit crunch continues,' said Jim Farley, group vice president of marketing and communications.

 

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