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Vehicle sales fall for GM, Ford in Jan.

By Sarah Karush
The Associated Press

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While the two automakers were struggling to explain their declines, Toyota was reporting a 15.8 percent boost in U.S. sales, and DaimlerChrysler posted sales that were 9.4 percent higher.

GM said yesterday that it was disappointed with the results but maintained its outlook for the year. Ford, the nation's second biggest automaker, said it remained optimistic.

Analysts expected January sales results to be tempered by frigid weather in parts of the country, despite brisk business at the beginning of the month.

Both GM and Ford saw the biggest declines in their car sales, with GM's car sales down 16.8 percent and car sales for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands falling 20.1 percent. Chrysler's car sales also fell, declining 23.2 percent.

GM's truck sales were up 12.8 percent. Ford's truck sales fell 4.7 percent, despite the continuing success of its F-150 pickup. Chrysler sold 21.5 percent more trucks than in the previous January.

Ford's F-series trucks posted record January sales of 61,979, up 9.6 percent. But Taurus sales fell 26.6 percent, and Sable sales were down 47.1 percent.

But Pipas said "help is on the way" in the form of two new midsize sedans, the Ford Five Hundred and the Mercury Montego.

Toyota, meanwhile, saw truck sales jump 27.4 percent and car sales rise 6.4 percent.

Yesterday, Ford shares fell 23 cents to close at $13.72 while GM shares lost 84 cents to settle at $47.86. DaimlerChrysler's U.S. shares were off $1.17 to close at $46.39.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company