Columnist Scott Burgess reads the tea leaves in June auto sales numbers, which are up 7.1% versus the month last year. Among his observations:
Ford's Lincoln brand is supposed to get
an overhaul soon, but it's not soon enough. Yes, sales were up 16.5% in June, "but that number pulls down Ford's overall growth. The Ford badge saw sales jump 19.9%. Ford sold more Econoline vans,
7,952, than Lincoln sold vehicles, 7,361." He also points out that through June, Kia sold more compact Forte cars, 43,022, for the year than Lincoln has sold total vehicles, 42,003, during the same
time frame.
Chevy sold 561 Volts, where it seems stuck, while Nissan Leaf is starting to take off, with 1,708 cars sold in June alone and 3,875 for the year. "Some are blaming it on
supply issues, much like the ones Japanese carmakers are facing. Hopefully, those can be resolved soon. Many promises were made on the hood of the Chevy Volt, and no one will remember the excuses for
why those lofty goals were not reached; they'll only remember General Motors Co. not meeting them." writes Burgess.
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