Ford Make A Loss

[the_duke_of_hazzard]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4360372.stm

[karhu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4360372.stm

FORD going same way as GM. Toyota and Honda are doing very nicely thank you very much.

Doubt everything is down to car sales. May be more to do with the type of gas guzzling monstrosities that they make, and their expensive unionised structure. Japan have been through a recession that we should have all gone through and are reaping the benefits of it now.

K.

[JBFTB]

My partner was commenting just recently on how few '55' plate cars were around...it was only then that I began to notice it myself.

[CrashCrash]

My partner was commenting just recently on how few '55' plate cars were around...it was only then that I began to notice it myself.

Absolutely, me too noticed that

[munimula]

This hurricane season has had two positive effects on Americans which should benefit us all.

1. They can see the affects of global warming coming home. They consume 25% of the worlds energy so this is only right. No good simply watching the rest of the world sinking under increased flooding and higher sea levels and carry on as usual.

2. They are buying less ridiculous SUVs which contribute to global warming.

[benjamin]

Absolutely, me too noticed that

same here - saw 1 this morning. nearly veered off the road.

[ChrisM]

This hurricane season has had two positive effects on Americans which should benefit us all.

1. They can see the affects of global warming coming home. They consume 25% of the worlds energy so this is only right. No good simply watching the rest of the world sinking under increased flooding and higher sea levels and carry on as usual.

2. They are buying less ridiculous SUVs which contribute to global warming.

Do you think that they're paying x3 + for fuel is putting them off a bit? I'm surprised it's not kicked off a moonshine industry for fuel!!

[libitina]

Car sales on the rise in Europe - 12th October 2005

Read more about the platinum group metals markets in Johnson Matthey's bi-annual reviews click here.

Registrations of new cars rose in Western Europe by 2.1 per cent during September 2005, new figures reveal.

Data from German car industry association VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie) indicates that a record 1.38 million vehicles were registered in Western Europe last month.

In a statement VDA announced that registrations in France were up seven per cent in September, while Spain witnessed a five per cent increase in registrations, Germany and Italy were both up four per cent and UK new car registrations dipped by three per cent.

The association attributed the record September figures to new model releases and an increase in buying incentives and noted that rising fuel prices failed to dampen registrations during the month. The figures were above industry estimates, Reuters news agency reports.

The VDA is forecasting total registrations of 3.3 million units in Germany for 2005. In figures released earlier this month, the association revealed that GM’s German brand, Opel, saw registrations soar by 28.6 per cent in September to 33,165 units, while the Volkswagen brand saw registrations up by 7.6 per cent to 56,343 units last month.

According to the VDA, new car registrations were up 0.4 per cent across Europe during the first nine months of 2005, to 11.25 million units. Denmark has so far seen the biggest growth in registrations, which were up during the first three-quarters of the year by 25 per cent.

http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media_room/1129118403.html

Engineering

The Times October 07, 2005

September car sales fall again

By Christine Buckley, Industrial Editor

NEW car sales during last month’s change of registration plates fell to their lowest for five years, continuing a long-running downturn in the market. However, diesel models again showed resilience, clocking up their 60th successive month of sales growth.

Sales in September, when the new 55 registration plate was issued, reached 417,000, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a 3.2 per cent fall on the same month last year and the poorest September sales since 2000. In the year to date, sales have fallen 5.2 per cent to 1.97 million vehicles.

Christopher Macgowan, the chief executive of the SMMT, said: “The new car market is fiercely competitive this year and manufacturers are fighting hard for every sale, particularly to private customers.

“However, while overall registrations are down, diesel has continued what seems an inexorable rise in popularity. That may well have a lot to do with soaring fuel costs and the economy benefits that diesel brings to drivers.”

Sales to private buyers fell 9.9 per cent and represented 90 per cent of the overall drop.

With the collapse of MG Rover still feeding through into comparative figures, sales of UK-built cars fell 5.4 per cent compared with the same month last year. UK-made cars registered in Britain represented only 17.1 per cent of the market last month and only slightly more — 17.5 per cent — in the year to date.

September and March, the months for registration plate change, are key months for the industry as many car buyers wait for the new number plate.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/...1814548,00.html