Carmakers report ’09 sales declines

DETROIT (AP) — Big automakers are glad to see the end of 2009, the worst year for U.S. sales in nearly 30 years.

Detroit’s three automakers and the top Japanese manufacturers — Honda Motor Co. Nissan Motor Co., and Toyota Motor Corp. — all saw sharp declines for the year, but all said they had momentum to start 2010.

For most, 2009 was a rough year as credit froze, the economy and consumer confidence faltered and unemployment rose. U.S. sales for the full-year are expected to be their worst in nearly 30 years.

Sales of smaller, cheaper vehicles, however, helped drive gains for some manufacturers. Hyundai continued its surge with an 8-percent yearly gain, while its low-cost Kia brand reported 2009 sales gains of nearly 10 percent and a 44-percent gain in December.

Japanese automaker Subaru, which reported a 15-percent sales gain for the year, called 2009 an unqualified success.

General Motors and Chrysler took the biggest hits after both went through bankruptcy court and stayed alive with government aid.

For the year, GM sales were off 33 percent from 2008, while December sales fell 9 percent.

GM said its sales are down for the year because it reduced low-profit sales to rental car companies and other fleet buyers, and because it is phasing out or selling four brands — Saturn, Pontiac, Saab and Hummer.

“The year-over-year comparison reflects a 38-percent reduction in fleet, reduced overall incentive spending and the orderly wind-down of the Pontiac and Saturn brands,” Susan Docherty, GM’s sales chief, said in a statement.

Mike DiGiovani, GM’s top sales analyst, said the company saw its U.S. market share stabilize at 20 percent.

“That’s very encouraging, given all that we’ve been through this year,” he said.

GM, he said, is optimistic for improved sales in 2010 even with uncertainty over oil prices, employment and consumer confidence. He predicted sales of 11 million to 12 million vehicles, compared with an expected 10.5 million last year.

Chrysler sold only 931,000 vehicles for the year, its worst performance since 1962. The Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker saw sales drop 36 percent for 2009 but down only 4 percent in December, far better than the double-digit drops the company reported earlier in the year. And last month’s sales rose 36 percent over November, showing signs of some progress at showrooms but also helped by less- profitable sales to fleets such a rental companies and municipalities.

Honda’s sales were off 22 percent for the year but up 20 percent for December, while Nissan was up 18 percent for the month but down 19 percent for the year. Toyota sales were up a whopping 32 percent in December but down just over 20 percent for the year.

Ford Motor Co. said full-year sales declined 15 percent, but the company said it posted its first full-year gain in U.S. market share since 1995. It also reported a 33-percent increase in December sales thanks to strong demand for midsize cars such as the Ford Fusion, whose sales rose 83 percent. The Ford Escape crossover, meanwhile, rose 75 percent.

Ford’s restructuring plan and new products helped it finish strong in 2009 despite a difficult business environment, said Ken Czubay, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service. He remained cautious that 2010 is likely to see more ups and downs in auto sales.

“I’m leaving my seat belt on, because I think that volatility is still an element of the new norm,” he said.