Related... 2nd UPDATE: US Auto Sales Rise In Dec As Executives Predict Rebound In '10
(Updates to add General Motors, Honda figures, and updates stock quotes)
By John Kell and Jeff Bennett
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- Ford Motor Co. (F) posted a 33% jump in December U.S. light-vehicle sales, ending a stellar year compared to rivals for the auto maker, as it recorded its first full-year market share gain since 1995.
Meanwhile, Chrysler Group LLC posted a 3.7% decline and said its full-year sales were the worst the struggling auto maker had seen in 47 years.
And the largest U.S. auto maker--General Motors Co.--posted a 5.7% decline, but noted its process to sell-down Pontiac and Saturn inventory was ahead of schedule and reported a 2.2% increase for the four brands GM will keep following its streamlining.
The results underscore how the auto makers have responded to the economic recession that began officially in December 2007 and led to the bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM. Auto makers have reduced production, cut jobs and offered more incentives to spark sales.
Overall, U.S. sales are expected to finish the year at 10.4 million vehicles, Ford sales analyst George Pipas said. This would be the lowest level since 1982 when sales were 10.3 million, according to Autodata Corp.
GM, though, said it expected the seasonally adjusted annual rate in December to be about the same as November--11 million to 11.2 million--resulting in total vehicle sales of 10.6 million for 2009, the lowest since 1992.
Ford put its U.S. share at about 15% for the year--about one percentage point higher than 2008. December's sales growth marks the fifth time in six months Ford has seen increases. The company's U.S. light-vehicle sales were 183,701 in December, compared with 138,325 a year earlier. There were 28 selling days in December, two more than last year.
For the year, Ford's sales were 1.62 million, down 15% and the best among the industry's biggest sellers in the U.S.
The results caused Ford's shares to rise 8.4% to $11.15 in recent trading, reaching the highest level since August 2005.
GM reported U.S. light-vehicle sales were 207,538, down from 220,030. Retail sales of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac were up 13% in December, but fleet sales slumped 33% and sales in non-core brands tumbled 55%. The largest U.S. auto maker said it sold 2.1 million vehicles in 2009, down 30% from a year earlier.
"The fact that our retail market share has increased two full points from the third to fourth quarters demonstrates that we are strengthening our brands," said GM U.S. sales executive Susan Docherty.
The company did note its sell-down of the Pontiac and Saturn brands was 10 months ahead of schedule--with only about 1,700 of those vehicles remaining. The company had offered late-month dealer incentives to clear the brands.
December's dealer inventory was 385,000 vehicles--the lowest year-end level on record, according to GM.
Chrysler reported sales fell to 86,523 vehicles in December, with cars up 31% and trucks sliding 14%. Still, the company noted 11 vehicles saw year-over-year increases. For all of 2009, Chrysler's sales were down 36% to 931,402. Chrysler, which left bankruptcy protection in June under the management control of Fiat SpA (FIATY, F.MI), has performed the worst of any of the major auto makers.
Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO), meanwhile, reported December sales jumped 24% to 107,143, leaving 2009's decline at 20%. Earlier Tuesday, the Japanese auto maker said the decline in global auto sales has ebbed, but that an immediate recovery in the major markets of the U.S., Japan and Europe is unlikely.
Also, Nissan Motor Co.'s (NSANY) sales rose 18% to 73,404 units in December, although full-year results were down 19% to 770,103. "Despite the huge challenges and uncertainties of last year, combined Nissan and Infiniti market share set a record in 2009," said Nissan U.S. sales and marketing executive Brian Carolin.
Nissan's American shares were down 2.2% to $17.50, while Honda's ADS fell 1% to $34.33.
-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480; john.kell@dowjones.com
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