Ford and Fiat-Chrysler post surprising sales gains in August - Boston Globe
NEW YORK — Domestic automakers reported surprisingly strong results Tuesday for August sales in the United States, defying analysts’ expectations of losses in a month that had turmoil in the stock markets and an unusual calendar quirk that had... Ford reported that sales increased 5 percent for the month, compared with the same period a year ago, and posted its best August for sport utility vehicle sales in 12 years — led by vehicles like the Explorer and Edge. “It looks like Ford may be getting some of its groove back by finally getting the F-Series out there,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader. One reason that analysts had predicted a tougher month for auto sales is that Labor Day weekend, traditionally a popular time for car shoppers to hit dealers’ lots, falls later than usual. That means that Labor Day weekend, which last year was included in August sales numbers, will this year be counted in September instead. “Even ones that were down, they weren’t down as much as we thought they would be. ”. Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president for American marketing, said improved availability for the new pickup trucks, which increased production in recent months,... Source: www.bostonglobe.com
