Cash for clunkers fuels August sales

The August car sales numbers are in and with the help from the federal cash for clunkers program, car sales saw a jolt for all automakers over last month, although, even with the boost, 2009 sales for year to date is still down for all manufacturers except Subaru.

Here are the highlights:

Chrysler: Struggling with low inventory due to the clunkers program and factory closures, Chrysler saw a five percent increase over July’s sales numbers, but down 15 percent over last August. Year to date, the company is down 39 percent. Big sellers in August include the Chrysler 300 and PT Cruiser, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Ford: Ford continues its sales momentum for August with a 21 percent increase over August 2008 and 10 percent over last month. However, year-to-date sales were down 23 percent. Top sellers, mostly fueled by the cash for clunkers program, were the Ford Focus, Fusion, Escape, Edge, and Flex, and Mercury Mariner and Milan.

General Motors: GM sales for August were at their highest for 2009. The figures were still down 20 percent over the same time last year, but up 21 percent over last month. Best sellers include some of their most fuel-efficient vehicles -- Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt, HHR, and Equinox.

Honda: Propelled by a number of fuel-efficient vehicles, Honda posted its second highest sales month with an increase of 14 percent over the same time last year and 29 percent over last month. However, sales are down almost 25 percent year over year for the first eight months of 2009. The Civic, Fit, and CR-V were the biggest sellers.

Hyundai: Hyundai saw a huge surge from the clunkers program, a 47 percent increase over August 2008 and 33 percent over last month. Year-to-date Hyundai sales are only down less than one percent so far this year.

Nissan: Even with the help from the cash for clunkers program, combined Nissan and Infiniti sales were down almost three percent over August 2008. Year-to-date total sales are down 27 percent, but the numbers grew almost 32 percent from last month. The Nissan Versa was the clear sales winner with a 131 percent increase over last year. The Sentra and Rogue also saw a healthy sales boost.

Subaru: Subaru enjoyed its best sales month ever with a 52-percent increase over last August, 31-percent increase from July 2009, an 11 percent gain year over year. Subaru was the only manufacturer to enjoy an increase in sales so far for the 2009 calendar year. All Subaru vehicles except the Tribeca, which was down 8 percent, enjoyed a double digit increase over the same month last year.

Toyota: August sales were up over 10 percent over last year led by the Camry and Camry Hybrid, as well as Corolla, Prius, and Yaris. Sales were up about 22 percent over last month, but still down 28 percent so far in 2009 over 2008.

We’ll see what the sales numbers reveal next month without the cash for clunkers program, as and car dealerships try to offer rebates and incentives to help keep the car buying momentum going.

—Liza Barth 

Comments

[Cars4Charities]

Any modest increase in retail sales was more than offset by the significant decrease in revenue cash for clunkers caused at auto repair shops, parts stores, used car lots and car donation charities.