Ford’s April vehicle sales down 12 percent

[phantom power]

This is the lesser-known phenomenon of "Peak F150"

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales dropped 12 percent in April as high gas prices accelerated the trend away from trucks and sport utility vehicles.

It was a pattern expected throughout the industry as gas prices rose to record highs. Other automakers are scheduled to report their April sales later Thursday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24407257/

[tinrobot]

1. Maybe they'll finally get serous about fuel efficient cars.

They have a really good hybrid drivetrain (Ford Escape Hybrid) why aren't they putting it in more cars/trucks?

[phantom power]

2. I have a few thoughts....

In no particular order.

1) people are buying fewer trucks not just because of fuel prices. Maybe (so far) not even primarily because of fuel prices. We're in a recession, and people just can't afford as much car any more. They either choose not to buy any new vehicle, or if they do they go with a smaller car, because it costs less money.

2) SUVs and trucks benefit less from a hybrid drive train, just because of their greater weight, larger power requirements, etc.

3) A large fraction of people who bought trucks/SUVs since the 1990s don't need them, when push comes to shove. They were a fad, enabled by cheap oil and cheap credit, both of which are evaporating. People who really need a larger vehicle will continue to own them (if they can), but a lot of people are going to go back to owning smaller cars.

4) Ford and GM continue with their policy of being "serious" mostly about lobbying congress. I have to assume their fearless CEOs are still hoping all this crazy peak-oil and recession stuff just blows over.

[diane in sf]

3. If they had enough brains to put that lobbying money into serious research they'd be so

much better off.

[lectrobyte]

4. and in contrast: Toyota sales up, gain in cars offset drop in trucks

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/05/01/ap4959663.html

TORRANCE, Calif. - Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. said Thursday its April U.S. sales rose, as higher demand for small cars and hybrids more than offset a drop in light truck sales.

Sales of passenger cars rose 11.9 percent to 134,863 units from 120,556 in the same month last year, as demand for the Yaris small car jumped 58.1 percent to 11,434 and sales of the Prius hybrid rose 66.6 percent to 21,757.

[Zachstar]

5. If they are still in buisness going into 2010 I will be quite surprised.

Foreign cars have proven in my view to be so much better quality and MPG for them is MUCH less of a problem then our tanks.

I saw a 25 thousand dollar car achieve over 50mpg with no hybrid. So unless Ford can beat that they better just give up on gas cars and work on electric only from this point forward.

No amount of "be patriotic! buy American!" can save them when gas is 5 USD.