The United States Automakers are at a seven-year low with their domestic sales, while the Japanese Automakers have now gained 5% market share in the US. Both Ford and General Motors are hating it with sagging sales presumably from high gasoline prices and their many sport utility vehicle models which have less than respectable fuel mileage. The 5% gain from Japanese Automakers is a five percent loss for domestic automakers and this is putting a world of hurt on the auto manufacturing industry in the US.
The big winners are the manufacturers of perceived better fuel-efficient vehicles like Toyota and Honda. Nissan did not do so well and also gave up some of its volume to both Toyota and Honda. But if one thinks they can now go out a purchase a hybrid car forget about it, there are waiting lists and very few available.
Now that fuel prices on both diesel and gasoline have dropped again it maybe possible for Ford and GM to regain some ground on the smaller cars they sell, but with interest rates raising too, one has to consider that the higher priced SUV will not be able to be purchased in such an easy manner by debt ridden consumers. Many believe that the fuel prices may stay under $2.40 per gallon until they end of the year and the first quarter of 2006, although some are wondering if that is feasibly possible and if we will be seeing over $2.00 gallon prices for gasoline forever now. Think on this and how it effects you.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
