Affluent Buyers Drive Strong Sales in February

Affluent Buyers Drive Strong Sales in February

Auto-sales figures from February show that car companies are facing a U.S. market driven by choosy consumers seeking well-made, technically innovative brands. Last month, auto sales were down 0.5% largely because blue collar brands such as Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Pontiac, and Buick weren't selling. The Wall Street Journal reports that the brands that did well were mainly those aimed at affluent, city-living Americans. BMW, for example, said February sales rose nearly 12 percent. Audi sales jumped 37.5 percent. The Toyota and Lexus brands each set new February records. In the wake of Al Gore's appearance at the Oscars and renewed Congressional interest in CAFE standards, environmentally friendly cars are also selling. Toyota said last week the company sold a total of 18,860 hybrid Toyota and Lexus vehicles in February, up 72% from the year before. Put another way, the "Hybrid Toyota" brand sold more cars than either Mercedes-Benz, or Buick, or Acura.

LINK: http://users1.wsj.com/lmda/do/checkLogin?mg=wsj-users1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB1172 85497841624918-search.html%3FKEYWORDS%3Dauto%26COLLECTION%3Dwsjie %2F6month

Hybrid sales reports are the most confusing, conflicting pieces of auto industry data I have ever seen.

Seems every week someone runs another article stating that hybrid demand is falling. The Prius is struggling to find buyers. And every time Toyota reports record sales for their hybrids. Just what gives? :confused:

By the way, the Oscar thing is pure bunk. The Oscars took place before the very last (and very short) sales week of February. The assertion that Al Gore and the Greenies at the Oscars convinced all these people to run out and buy a hybrid between Monday and Wednesday is utterly laughable.

Looks like Americans weren't in the mood for domestic parts to me... :)

It's interesting they exclude Saturn while talking pure percentages (up 60%).

By the way, the Oscar thing is pure bunk. The Oscars took place before the very last (and very short) sales week of February. The assertion that Al Gore and the Greenies at the Oscars convinced all these people to run out and buy a hybrid between Monday and Wednesday is utterly laughable.

I got a kick out of that too :lol: