October auto sales up for GM, Ford

Jeep still selling well for Chrysler

The October sales numbers are in for U.S. automakers and analysts say they show the American market is starting a slow recovery.

The numbers are headed in the right direction for General Motors and Ford. Chrysler continues to see a decrease. But one of Chrysler's best sellers continues to roll off the lines in Toledo.

Ford's numbers increased about 3 percent. GM's sales numbers are up 4.7 percent from the same month last year. Chrysler's numbers dropped 30 percent from October of last year.

Auto industry analyst Dennis Virag says it's not all bad news for Chrysler. "Jeep is really holding the Chrysler Corporation together. Wrangler is the icon of Jeep and its sales were down a bit in October but overall year-to-date it was only down about two percent and that is amazing in this down market."

Here's how the Toledo-built products stack up. The Wrangler was down 16 percent month over month and down 2 percent year over year.

Jeep Liberty sales were off 30 percent when you compare October 2008 to October 2009 and off 39 percent from year to year. Dodge Nitro sales were down 42 percent month to month and 54 percent year-to-date.

Is Chrysler going to survive? Virag says, "I don't know if Chrysler will survive as we know it today but I know Jeep will survive because of its numbers and the fierce loyal following of the Jeep brand."

Chrysler execs will unveil the company's five-year plan tomorrow and experts say it will be good news for Toledo. Virag: "The Fiat executives were impressed with their Toledo tours and I think that not only means they'll keep going with their current production while adding some production in the future."

This is the first monthly gain in U.S. sales for GM in almost two years GM increased its light vehicles by about 13 percent from September. As you know, thousands of workers in our region build transmisions and other parts for GM.

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