According to Bloomberg, automaker BMW led European automakers to their highest monthly share of the U.S. market in December 2006. Combined, the 15 European brands sold 116,911 vehicles for an 8.2 percent share of the market. BMW paced the surge with 30,945 vehicles sold, up 17 percent from last year.(Pictured is BMW’s 3-Series, its most popular sedan.)
Overall, the European brands boosted sales 3 percent from 2005 levels. Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, reported U.S. sales in December plunged 23 percent while Volkswagen luxury brand Audi announced that its sales were up 35 percent in December. Porsche posted a 7.2 percent increase. And while DaimlerChrysler said sales in the U.S. in December of Mercedes-Benz units fell 9.9 percent, it was, overall, up 10.6 percent for the year.
Overall European sales actually fell 2.4 percent in December which put European carmakers’ sales at 1.15 million for 2006, their highest mark since 2003. BMW, Porsche, and Audi set annual U.S. sales records.
Asian automakers had a 5.9 percent increase for December and were led by Toyota. Toyota’s Lexus brand finished first in the U.S. luxury market sales for the seventh straight year.
Both Ford and General Motors experienced a 13 percent drop in sales for December.
Our take? Expect 2007 to be an even more ferocious year as all automakers continue to scramble for the consumer’s dollar.
Via Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&aid=awanaJh4aoH8&refer=germany
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