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VW of America Sales Increase 35.6% in September
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HERNDON, Va., Oct. 3, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ --

September sales total 27,036 units, a 35.6% increase over prior year sales
Year-to-date increase of 22.2%
Chattanooga-built Passat launches with 3,176 units in first month of sales
1st retail sales of 2012 Beetle with 722 units sold
55.4% increase in Jetta Sedan sales vs. last year with 13,128 units
GTI sales up 43.4% and Golf up 19.4%
Touareg sales increase 104.4% vs. prior year
Tiguan sales up 22.8%
High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 22.7% of sales

Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VwoA) today reported 27,036 units sold in September 2011, a 35.6% increase over prior year sales. Year-to-date sales are up 22.2%.

"We are continuing to see consumer interest in our German engineered vehicles grow as we launched the all-new Passat and Beetle in September," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "As we enter the last quarter of the year, we anticipate Volkswagen to continue to outperform the overall industry as we expand our product portfolio and make German Engineering accessible to a larger audience."

The all-new, 2012 Volkswagen Passat went on sale September 12 with 3,176 units sold for the month. The 2012 Beetle, also launched in September, sold 722 units during its 1st month of sales. Volkswagen Jetta sales (including Sport Wagen) totaled 15,023 units, a 39.5% increase over last year. GTI sales increased 43.4% while Golf sales rose 19.4% versus last year. Sport utility vehicles Touareg and Tiguan experienced 104.4% and 22.8% sales increases, respectively. Volkswagen's high-mileage, clean diesel TDI models accounted for 22.7% of all September sales and 41 percent year-to-date.

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Chrysler Group US Retail Sales Soar 50% in September
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Chrysler Group total sales (retail and fleet) increase 27 percent in September; best September total sales since 2007

September marks the 18th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains

Chrysler, Jeepฎ, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each post sales increases in September versus same month a year ago

Best September for Jeep brand sales since 2007

Jeep brand posts 17th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains in September

New Jeep Compass posts 306 percent year-over-year sales gain; sets sixth-consecutive monthly sales record this year

Jeep Wrangler sets new sales record for month of September

Chrysler brand posts best sales month this year and best September sales since 2007

New Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan sales up 87 percent in September compared with sales of its predecessor a year ago

New Chrysler 300 full-size sedan sales improve 50 percent in September versus same month a year ago

Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan each post double-digit percentage sales increases

Ram pickup sales up 45 percent; best sales month of the year and best September sales since 2007

2011 Ram Heavy Duty earns Motorist Choice Award from IntelliChoice and AutoPacific

Ram 1500 named Best $30,000 Pickup in PickupTruck.com's Truck Shootout

FIAT brand teams up with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to produce 250 "Pink Ribbon" limited-edition Fiat 500 models

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 127,334, a 27 percent increase compared with sales in September 2010 (100,077 units), and the best September sales since 2007.

Chrysler Group's 27 percent sales increase was driven by retail sales that were up 50 percent. Chrysler Group has beaten the average industry sales increase in eight of nine months this year.

Models that significantly contributed to the group's 27 percent increase included the Chrysler 200 mid-size and Chrysler 300 full-size sedans, Jeepฎ Wrangler, Jeep Compass, Dodge Journey crossover, Ram pickup truck, and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans.

"Irrespective of the economy, strong products equal strong sales and with our retail sales up a whopping 50 percent that is exactly what we have," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO - Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. "September was also our 18th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and we have now gained more retail market share than anyone else in the country. There is no double dip downturn going on around here."

The Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands all posted sales increases in September. The Ram Truck brand's 42 percent sales increase led the way with the largest percentage gain of all the brands. The Chrysler brand logged its best sales month since August 2008 and best September sales since 2007.

The Ram Truck brand had its best September since 2007. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 45 percent, its best sales month of the year and best September since 2007.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 54-day supply of inventory (277,278 units). U.S. industry sales figures for September are projected at an estimated 13.2 million SAAR.

September 2011 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand

Chrysler Brand

In September, the Chrysler brand posted its best sales month since August 2008 and its best September sales since 2007. The brand's 36 percent increase was driven by Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, and Chrysler Town & Country sales gains.

Sales of the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan were up 87 percent compared with sales of its predecessor the same month a year ago. Chrysler 300 full-size sedan sales increased 50 percent versus the same month in 2010, and sales of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan were up 16 percent in September.

The Chrysler brand introduced in September the 1st 8-speed automatic transmission in a domestic luxury sedan. With the available state-of-the-art ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, the new rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive 2012 Chrysler 300 models deliver added refinement and improved fuel economy (EPA estimated 19 City/ 31 Highway RWD; 18 City/27 Highway AWD) with the award-winning 292 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine.

Ram Truck Brand

Ram Truck brand sales increased 42 percent in September, the largest percentage increase of any Chrysler Group brand. Ram pickup truck sales were up 45 percent, the best sales month of this year and the best September sales since 2007. Both the Light Duty and Heavy Duty pickup trucks, along with the Chassis Cab, logged double-digit percentage sales gains in September.

IntelliChoice and AutoPacific in September announced their 6th annual Motorist Choice Awards, naming the 2011 Ram Heavy Duty in the Popular Active Lifestyle Category. The Motorist Choice Awards are an industry benchmark for measuring the combination of high consumer satisfaction and lower-than-expected ownership costs over time. Ram Heavy Duty has earned the Motorist Choice Award 2 years in a row.

Editors of PickupTrucks.com in September named the Ram 1500 Best $30,000 Pickup in their 1st ever value shootout. The Best $30,000 Pickup Truck Shootout pitted a Ram 1500 Quad Cab HEMIฎ against similarly-priced entries from Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Toyota. Entries were judged on towing capacity, performance, handling, styling and fuel economy.

Jeepฎ Brand

The Jeep brand's 24 percent increase in September was driven in part by the new Jeep Compass. Sales of the Compass, now offering Trail Ratedฎ 4x4 capability, were up 306 percent, the largest year-over-year percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group model in September. September marked the Jeep brand's 17th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and best September since 2007.

The Jeep Wrangler, the benchmark off-road vehicle, and the Jeep Liberty mid-size SUV each posted double-digit percentage sales increases. The Wrangler was the top-selling Jeep model in September, and was second only to the Ram pickup truck as the top-selling Chrysler Group model during the month. The Wrangler set a new sales record for the month of September.

Jeep Grand Cherokee sales are up 78 percent through September this year compared with the same nine-month period last year. The 2012 Grand Cherokee delivers with even more refinement and features that can be appreciated on the road and off. Since its introduction, the 2012 Grand Cherokee has captured more than 30 awards from an array of opinion-leading organizations making it the most awarded SUV ever.

Dodge Brand

The Dodge brand posted a 10 percent sales increase in September compared with the same month in 2010. The Dodge Grand Caravan, America's best-selling minivan, and the Dodge Journey, America's most versatile crossover, each posted double-digit percentage sales increases in September. Sales of the Dodge Challenger, the iconic Dodge muscle car, and the sporty five-seat Dodge Nitro SUV, also contributed with sales gains in September. It was the Dodge brand's best September sales since 2008.

The Dodge brand introduced in September its new American Value Package (AVP) for the 2012 Grand Caravan and Journey. The Grand Caravan AVP starts at only $20,995 MSRP (excluding destination), making it the most affordable minivan in America. The Journey AVP starts at $18,995 MSRP, making it the most affordable mid-size crossover in America.

Also in September, the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit set new performance benchmarks in the police vehicle segment. The new Charger V-6 and V-8 models set new levels of performance - including the fastest lap time ever recorded (1:33.70) - at the Michigan State Police's annual Police Vehicle Evaluation tests in September at Grattan Raceway in Belding, Mich. The fastest-ever lap time at Grattan Raceway highlights Dodge Charger Pursuit V-8 as the police sedan with the best combination of acceleration, braking, handling and dynamics.

September 2011 U.S. Sales Highlights

Chrysler brand sales (23,559 units) increased 36 percent in September versus the same month a year ago (17,348 units)

Sales of the Chrysler 200 (8,709 units) were up 87 percent compared with sales of the model's previous generation (4,651 units) in September a year ago

Chrysler 300 sales (4,445 units) increased 50 percent in September versus the same month in 2010 (2,961 units)

Sales of the Chrysler Town & Country were up 16 percent compared with September last year (9,001 units)

Jeep brand sales (35,565 units) increased 24 percent versus the same month last year (28,603 units)

Jeep Wrangler sales (11,388 units) were up 47 percent compared with September 2010 (7,765 units)

Jeep Liberty sales (5,363 units) increased 10 percent versus September last year (4,865 units)

Sales of the Jeep Compass (4,422 units) were up 306 percent compared with the same month a year ago (1,090 units)

Jeep Patriot (3,812 units) posted a 5 percent year-over-year sales increase

Dodge brand sales (40,073 units) were up 10 percent in September versus the same month a year ago (36,272 units)

Dodge Challenger sales (3,328 units) increased 6 percent compared with the same month a year ago (3,138 units)

Dodge Journey sales (5,402 units) were up 29 percent versus September 2010 (4,198 units)

Dodge Grand Caravan sales (10,203 units) increased 27 percent compared with September 2010 (8,057 units)

Dodge Nitro sales (2,255 units) were up 11 percent versus September 2010 (2,032 units)

Ram Truck brand sales (25,364 units) increased 42 percent compared with the same month a year ago (17,854 units)

Ram pickup truck sales were up 45 percent in September versus the same month last year (16,887 units)

Chrysler Group truck sales (94,117 units) improved 33 percent compared with September 2010 (70,527 units)

Chrysler Group car sales (33,217 units) were up 12 percent versus September 2010 (29,550 units)

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GM's US Sales Up 20% in September

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General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported total sales of 207,145 vehicles in September, a 20% increase compared with September 2010.

Retail deliveries were up 19%compared with the same month a year ago and accounted for 74% of GM sales. Deliveries to fleet customers increased 22%.

“For GM, all of the factors that say this is a good time to buy a new vehicle outweigh the bad news that appears to be slowing down the broader economic recovery,” said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “We’re well positioned going forward because we have momentum and another wave of fuel-efficient passenger cars launching over the next several months at Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac.”

In September, year-over-year passenger car sales increased 12%, crossover sales increased 7% and truck sales, which include full-size pickups and SUVs, increased 34%.

Chevrolet : In September, its 12 th month since going on sale, Cruze deliveries were 18,097 units, bringing its 1st full year of sales to 212,019 vehicles. Silverado sales increased 36%, Tahoe was up 63% and Equinox was up 33%.
GMC : Sales have now increased for 24 consecutive months, year over year. Sierra sales were up 26%, Terrain sales were up 45% and Yukon was up 45%.
Cadillac : Combined sales of the Cadillac CTS sedan, coupe and wagon increased 24% compared with September 2010. In addition, the Cadillac SRX was up 22 percent. Cadillac reduced its fleet sales by 54 percent.
Buick : September was the brand’s 24th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains, with the Regal continuing to build momentum with sales up 87%. Enclave, which began the transformation of Buick, increased its sales by 10%.

Month-end dealer inventory in the United States was 558,157 units. GM’s full-size truck inventory was 208,650 full-size pickup trucks, which equates to an 88-days supply. GM is on track to meet its target of ending 2011 with a full-size pickup inventory of about 200,000 units.

GM continues to expect that the full-year U.S. vehicle sales will be in the low end of our 13.0 million – 13.5 million unit range, given seasonally strong sales and the fact that some of the company’s domestic and Japanese competitors have largely resolved their production issues.

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Nissan North American Sales Rise 25.3% in September
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Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported September U.S. sales of 92,964 units versus 74,205 units a year earlier, an increase of 25.3 percent. Nissan Division sales increased 28.2 percent for the month with 84,485 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles increased 2.1 percent from the prior year, to 8,479 units.

NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS

Nissan vehicles posted September sales of 84,485 units, an increase of 28.2% over the 65,900 units sold in September 2010.
Strong combined sales of Nissan cars – including the Altima, Sentra, Maxima, and Versa - were up 32.3% versus the prior year at 55,751 units, setting a September record for total car sales.
Versa saw a record September, with sales of 11,800 units increasing 68.1% over the prior year – helped by a strong start for the all-new Versa sedan, which had its 1st full month of sales in September.
Strong sales of the Nissan Altima continue, with 24,356 units marking a September increase of 21.7% over the prior year, while Maxima sales jumped 26.3% to 6,133 units.
The Rogue crossover vehicle continues to gain momentum, with sales of 10,740 units marking a 29.1% increase over last year – also a record September.
Sales of the 100% electric Nissan LEAF totaled 1,031 units in September, with total sales of 7,217 units of the innovative, 0-emissions vehicle since its December 2010 U.S. debut.

INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS

Infiniti sales totaled 8,479 units for September, an increase of 2.1% versus 8,305 a year earlier.
Infiniti G Sedan sales of 3,940 marked an increase of 28.9% for the month, and the model’s best September.
With sales of 1,206 in September, an increase of 46.7%, the Infiniti QX full-size luxury SUV has a year-over-year increase of 15.1%.
The updated 2012 Infiniti FX, with a new front fascia, wheels and instrument cluster, arrives in Infiniti showrooms this month, and is expected to support continued growth for the brand in October.

“Thanks to a strong and diverse lineup of cars and trucks, Nissan division sales marked the best September in 26 years,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. “Nissan saw year-over-year growth across the board, from our cars – including the all-new Versa sedan – to our crossovers and trucks as well.”

NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. September 2011 had 25 selling days, while September 2010 also had 25 selling days.

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Ford Posts 9% Increase
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Ford’s September sales totaled 175,199, up 9 percent versus last year. Ford brand sales increased 14%, paced by Ford brand utilities (up 35%) – including Escape (up 41%) and Explorer (up 204%)

Ford truck sales register 15% increase; F-Series exceeded the 50,000 vehicle mark, posting its best sales month of the year with 54,410 pickups sold. Ford sold a record 15,505 EcoBoost engines in September; EcoBoost-equipped F-150 established a new monthly record

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 3, 2011 – Driven by a 35 percent increase in Ford brand utilities and a 15 percent gain in Ford truck sales, Ford Motor Company’s September sales totaled 175,199, up 9 percent versus last year.

“Ford continues to deliver strong sales results in a dynamic marketplace with a broad portfolio of fuel-efficient, high-quality products,” said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. “This is further proof that Ford is offering the vehicles – with the fuel economy and technologies – that people truly want and value.”

Ford Brand Utilities: Up 35 Percent
Ford brand utilities had their best September sales month since 2004. Sales totaled 48,798 for the month, delivering year-to-date sales of 425,910 utilities. As the best-selling utility brand in America, Ford utility sales are up 30% through September.

Ford Escape, America’s best-selling utility, set a September sales record with 20,225 vehicles sold, up 41% versus a year ago. Escape has set monthly sales records 7 out of 9 months this year. Year to date, Escape sales totaled 187,850, up 32%.

Explorer sales in September totaled 11,336, up 204 percent versus a year ago. Through September, Explorer sales totaled 96,957, representing a 126% increase versus 2010.

The 2012 Explorer has an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating of 28 mpg when equipped with the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Explorer on the highway now beats Honda Pilot and Jeep Grand Cherokee by 5 mpg, Chevrolet Traverse by 4 mpg and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg.

Monthly Edge sales of 11,680 vehicles ran close to September 2010’s record sales of 12,815 vehicles.

“The utility segment continues to expand and has changed dramatically over the years,” Czubay said. “Ford’s continued success in this segment demonstrates our ability to constantly adapt to customers’ changing needs, providing them the fuel economy they want and the functionality they need.”

Ford Brand Cars: Fusion Has a Record September
Fusion sales totaled 19,510 vehicles last month, up 23%, making it a record September for Ford’s midsize sedan. Fusion has set monthly sales records 11 of the last 12 months. Fiesta sales totaled 3,967, up 30% versus a year ago.

Ford brand cars totaled 530,230 through September, up 19% versus the same period a year ago – more than doubling the industry sales growth of passenger cars for the same period.

Ford Brand Trucks: Up 15 Percent
Ford total truck sales were 15% higher in September than a year ago, with 73,225 trucks sold, representing the best sales month of the year and Ford’s best September for F-Series sales since 2007. Year to date, truck sales are up 9 percent, with total sales of 582,769.

F-Series sales surpassed the 50,000 mark in September, with 54,410 pickups sold. F-Series is the 1st industry nameplate to break through the 400,000 mark this year, with 416,388 pickups sold through September.

EcoBoost-equipped F-150s had their best-ever sales month, and V6 engines continue to outsell V8s among F-150s, with Ford’s new 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 3.7-liter V6 engines representing 57% of F-150 retail sales in September.

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American Honda Reports Sept Sales

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted September sales of 89,532 vehicles, a decrease of 8.0%, the company announced today. American Honda year-to-date sales reached 859,797, down 6.2% versus last year, based on the daily selling rate*.

Honda Division posted September sales of 79,522, a drop of 8.2 percent versus September 2010. Honda trucks posted sales of 41,375, an increase of 7.0% due to strong sales of the CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey. The CR-V was the top-selling model for September, with sales of 19,604, up 9.5%. The Pilot posted a sales increase of 27.9 percent on sales of 10,306. The Accord recorded sales of 18,639, down 13.8 percent and the Civic, which is nearing full production, posted monthly sales of 13,724, down 26.4%.

"Our U.S. manufacturing facilities are finally up to full production and the results are starting to show with increased CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey sales,” said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales. "Truckloads of new vehicles began arriving the last week of September and shoppers can now feel more confident that they will find what they want at their local Honda dealer."

Acura Division recorded September sales of 10,010, a decrease of 6.6% versus September 2010, and year-to-date sales of 89,146, down 7.9%. The TSX was the top-selling Acura model for the month with record September sales of 3,112 up 37.9%.

http://acuranews.com/channels/acura-...-sales-results

Acura posted September sales of 10,010, a decrease of 6.6 compared to September 2010, based on the daily selling rate*. Year-to-date sales totaled 89,146 units, down 7.9% versus last year.

“Despite challenges, Acura had a strong month,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. “As inventory levels and vehicle logistics return to normal, we are confident sales will continue to improve for the remainder of the year.”

Total car sales were up 13% with TSX as the top selling Acura model posting 3,112 units, an increase of 37.9% compared to last year. The TL reported 2,507 sales for the month, down 0.3 percent. MDX sales totaled 2,925 units, down 28.3%, and were limited by weather-related shipping delays.

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September 2011 Sales Chart

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported September sales of 121,451 units. With 25 selling days in September 2010 and 2011, sales were down 17.5 percent over the year-ago month on both a daily selling rate (DSR) and unadjusted raw volume basis.

Toyota Division recorded September sales of 106,456 vehicles, a decrease of 18.2 percent from the year-ago month. Lexus Division reported September sales of 14,995 units, a decrease of 11.5 percent from last year.

Through the third quarter, TMS reported sales of 1,194,524 vehicles, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to the same period in 2010 on a DSR and unadjusted raw volume basis.

"In September, production in both North America and Japan returned to normal levels for the first time since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Our plants are now working overtime and dealer deliveries will continue to increase through the remainder of 2011. With the 2012 Camry launch off to a great start, the timing couldn't be better," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. "It’s a tribute to the efficiency of our distribution system and our dealers that we were able to sell more than 121,000 vehicles in September despite 40 percent less availability than last year. That said, the worst is behind us and we expect to exceed year-ago sales levels beginning in October with continued growth throughout the fourth quarter."

Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded sales of 58,237 units, a decrease of 19.3 percent from last September. The Camry and Camry Hybrid led passenger cars with combined monthly sales of 24,851 units. Corolla recorded sales of 16,147 units, and the Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid reported sales of 9,325 units.

Toyota Division light trucks posted sales of 48,219 units in September, down 17.0 percent from the same period last year. The Sienna minivan led light trucks with sales of 8,975 units. The RAV4 compact SUV posted sales of 7,649 units, and the 4Runner SUV reported sales of 3,596 units, flat compared to the year-ago month. The Highlander and Highlander Hybrid reported combined sales of 7,544 units, while the Tundra full-size pickup and the Tacoma mid-size pickup posted sales of 6,695 and 8,180 units, respectively.

Scion posted September sales of 3,838 units, up 7.7 percent over September 2010. The tC sports coupe led the way with sales of 1,752 units, an increase of 78.6 percent year-over-year. The xB urban utility vehicle recorded sales of 1,415 units, and the xD reported sales of 671 units for the month.

Lexus Division
Lexus Division reported passenger car sales of 8,860 units, an increase of 8.9 percent over the year-ago month. The ES 350 entry luxury sedan led passenger cars with sales of 3,627 units, while the IS lineup reported combined sales of 2,539 units, up 3.8 percent compared to September 2010. The all-new CT 200h premium hybrid compact posted 1,444 units in its seventh month of sales.
Lexus Division light trucks recorded sales of 6,135 units, down 30.4 percent from September 2010. The RX and RX Hybrid luxury utility vehicles led the segment with combined September sales of 5,003 units, and the GX 460 mid-sized luxury utility vehicle posted sales of 867 units.

TMS Hybrids
TMS posted September sales of 12,123 hybrid vehicles, a decrease of 18.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Toyota Division posted sales of 9,772 hybrids, while Lexus Division reported sales of 2,351 hybrids for the month, an increase of 27.1 percent over September 2010.

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MB Reports Highest September on Record w/ Sales of 23,897
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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 23,897 vehicles, a 15.6% improvement over September 2010 (20,666) and the company's highest September volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 182,314 vehicles sold represent a 10.3% increase over the 165,355 vehicles sold during the same period last year.

The highest volume performers for the month were the C-Class and E-Class model lines. The all-new 2012 sporty C-Class – and gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – led the pack with sales of 6,865, up 32.1% from September 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,122 and the full-sized SUV, the GL-Class, finished 3rd in volume with monthly sales of 2,541. Additionally, sales of the newly launched 2012 CLS-Class posted a 399.3% increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 50.8% over September 2010.

At the high end, the company sold 25 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 454.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 121.3% for September with sales of 1,779 – bringing a year-to-date total of 12,452 (up 121.3 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 469 vehicles for the month (compared to the 422 vehicles sold in September 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,707 vehicles in September 2011, a decrease of -8.6%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 57,359 vehicles, a decrease of -5.9% over the comparable period last year.

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BMW Group Reports Sales
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The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported September sales of 25,749 vehicles, an increase of 11.4% from the 23,112 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.

Year-to-date, BMW Group sales are up 14.2% to 219,314 in the first nine months of 2011 compared to 192,052 in the same period in 2010.

"The good results in September are remarkable given the general view of the economy but it shows there is demand and people will spend provided you have the right products and offer value," said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. "We continue expanding our new product range with the BMW four-cylinder 528i and Z4 Roadster, the 6 Series Coupe and the MINI Coupe now on the market, giving us more reasons to be optimistic about the critical 4th quarter of the year."

BMW Brand Sales

Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 19.3% in September for a total of 21,750 compared to 18,228 vehicles sold in September, 2010.

Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 12.8% on sales of 177,679 January through September compared to 157,464 sold in the 1st 9 months of 2010.

In September, the BMW X3 SAV continued the strong sales success that began with its launch in January. Year-to-date, the new X3 has sold 19,167 compared with 5,036 in the same period of 2010, a 280% increase. The BMW SAV segment (X3, X5, X6) continues growing with sales up 46.3% from the previous September. The BMW 5 Series continues its strong sales growth with September posting a 43% increase over September 2010. Year-to-date the 5 Series has sold 37,996 compared to 24,476 in the 1st 9 months of 2010, a 55.2% increase.

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles

In September, sales of BMW used vehicles (including certified pre-owned and pre-owned) totaled 13,129, a decrease of 3.0% from the 13,540 sold in September 2010.

Year-to-date, BMW used vehicle sales are down 5.7% on volume of 119,424 compared to 126,601 in the first nine months of 2010.

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported sales of 3,999 automobiles in September. The September 2011 sales are down 18.1% from the 4,884 sold in September, 2010.

Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 20.4% on volume of 41,635 compared to 34,588 in the first nine months of 2010.

scgt652

September 2011 Sales Conference Call

September 2011 Sales Conference Call
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Speaking today will be:

• Bob Carter, Group Vice President and General Manager of the Toyota Division; and
• Mark Templin, Group Vice President and General Manager of Lexus.

Bob Carter:

I’m going to start today’s call by saying these words… one… last… time.

Combined Toyota, Scion and Lexus sales were down for the month.

Down 17.5 percent from last September to be exact.

When you consider vehicle availability was down more than 40 percent from last year, it’s a tribute
to the efficiency of our distribution system and our dealers that we were able to sell the 121,451 vehicles we did in September.

But things are already changing – and in a very big way.

For the first time since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, all Toyota plants in North America and Japan are back at normal production levels, a couple of months earlier than originally expected.

In fact, virtually all plants are working overtime and fourth quarter production will actually exceed our initial plans.

So the flow of vehicles is rapidly increasing and so will inventories.

As a result, we expect TMS to exceed year-ago sales levels beginning in October, and we will continue to do so every month through the fourth quarter and beyond.

The increases are being driven not only by improved availability, but also by an influx of new products.

Camry is a perfect example.

September Camry sales were down 19 percent, as the sell-down of 2011 models exceeded our expectations and drove inventories down to levels we’ve seldom seen in the past, about a third of what we normally have on hand.

We even started shipping the all-new 2012 model to dealers late in the month, several weeks ahead of our initial plans.

The new Camrys began arriving at dealerships this past week and dealers started selling them as soon as they rolled off the truck.

That trickle of 2012 Camrys will turn into a flood during October as we ship about 35,000 to dealers.
And while it’s still very early, the initial sales tell an interesting story.

Buyers are attracted by the best-in-class fuel economy and the added value the new Camry offers.

As Edmunds.com noted, 2012 Camry pricing gives it the lowest inflation-adjusted MSRP in the model’s 22-year history.

Early customers have responded by buying more Camry for less dollars.

So much so, our sport SE and luxury XLE models are selling at a faster rate than the LE, the traditional Camry leader.

Buyers also are requesting the new Entune multimedia system at a higher rate than we originally anticipated.

Again, it is very early and Camry advertising won’t start for a couple of weeks yet, but to say we’re ecstatic with this initial reaction is an understatement.

And we’re very confident Camry will hold on to its title of America’s best-selling car.

That means the current generation Camry will be number one every year it’s been on the market, a fitting tribute to the car that defines our brand and continues to exceed customer expectations.

In addition to Camry, the updated 2012 Tacoma went on sale in September.

Pickup truck sales in general are beginning to show some strength and the segment was our best performer when compared to August.

The new Yaris goes on sale later this month and we’ll also begin wholesaling the all-new Prius V before the month is out.

That gives us four all-new or significantly updated models in a span of 30 days -- to be followed by the Scion iQ before the end of the year.

In addition, Entune, the information and entertainment system that was named best-in-class at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, will expand from our initial three models to a total of 10 over the next few months.

It’s already available on Camry, Tacoma and Prius V. Beginning this month, 4Runner will add Entune, and both RAV4 and Corolla will offer the feature later this year.

In 2012, Land Cruiser, Tundra, Sienna and Sequoia will follow suit.

To support the launch of these new 2012 products, we will continue to offer zero percent financing on seven 2011 models, including Camry, Tundra, Corolla, Sienna, RAV4, Venza and Avalon.

And I can also announce today, that as a thank you to early buyers of the new 2012 Camry, they will receive five years of 24/7 roadside assistance, building on the two years that come standard on all Toyota models as part of ToyotaCare.

Finally, I’d like to say a few words about the industry results in September.

With an expected SAAR of 13 million, the industry posted its best month since April.

Despite everything that’s been thrown at us this year, auto sales continue to be one of the few economic bright spots.

We believe the industry is on track to hit our initial forecast of 12.5 million vehicles and with a strong fourth quarter push from Toyota, the industry should actually do a little better than that.

Thank you very much.

Now I’d like to turn this over to Mark Templin for a look at Lexus sales.

Mark Templin:

Thank you Bob.

With our model-year changeover and the re-filling of our pipeline, September was a transitional month
for Lexus.

Our sales of 14,995 were actually right on plan as our dealers are selling just about every car that arrives on their lots.

The good news is that production continues to increase and each day we have a greater variety of cars to offer customers.

In fact, our overall production for the 4th quarter will now be 22% higher than the 4th quarter of last year.

That’s especially good news for customers looking for RX and CT models.

The RX continues to be our best seller. We sold 5,003 RXs last month, and that number will increase each month through the rest of the year.

Our Canadian plant has committed to building 40 percent more RXs than outlined in our pre-earthquake 4th quarter production plan.

Our newest model, the CT 200h, continues to exceed our expectations both in sales and in the younger buyers it is attracting.

We sold 1,444 CTs in September, which is 50 percent higher than we had originally predicted.

We expect to maintain that sales pace for the CT and achieve our yearly sales goal, despite our production challenges.

To add even more excitement for CT buyers, last Friday we announced a CT 200h F Sport Special Edition Model.

This CT F Sport edition has unique interior and exterior components and even comes with customized TUMI luggage.

We also announced special editions of our popular LS and ES models. The LS 460 Sport Special Edition
has an exclusive Obsidian black exterior and a distinctive two-tone interior package.

The ES 350 Touring Edition includes new sporty wheels, special interior features and popular options such as Lexus Navigation System.

These special editions will offer customers some fresh options for the Fall.

Other upcoming news for Lexus is the debut of the GS F Sport model at the SEMA show in November.

A hybrid version of the GS was shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show and is a product we’re anxious to receive.

We’re developing plans now for the launch of our new GS early next year. It marks a bold new expression for Lexus and we’re excited with the new direction we’re headed.

scgt652

I want to know what is fueling the huge increases for the Mazda CX-7 (+90.8%) and CX-9 (73.6%).

SLegacy99

http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=43&item=268

LexFather

Audi's rise continues to be amazing, now substantially passing Infiniit on the way to Acura. Lexus will have new product soon and RX sales should climb, still not a bad 3rd place finish. Benz & BMW looking good.

Thanks for the data!

GS69

Audi Reports Best Ever September
(click for chart)

• September marks ninth record-breaking month of year with sales of 9,725, a 19.3% gain over the previous September record of 8,151 set in 2010
• Demand for the all-new 2012 Audi A6 increased 42.8%, Audi Q7 YTD sales enjoy 30.8% uptick
• Audi A3 TDI and Audi Q7 TDI accounted for 51% and 46.5% of sales mix; respectively

Audi of America today reported record September U.S. sales of 9,725 vehicles, topping the previous record of 8,151 vehicles sold in 2010. September 2011 marked the ninth consecutive month of record-setting sales for the brand in the U.S. market.

Audi U.S. year-to-date sales date grew 15.5% to 84,981. The luxury car brand has recorded record sales in 13 out of the past 14 months.

The favorable Audi performance in September was led by significant consumer demand for the all-new 2012 A6 with a 42.8% increase on 1,124 vehicles sold when compared to August 2010 sales. Demand for the Audi A7, introduced this spring and recently named the Esquire Magazine Car of the Year for 2011, remained strong with 693 vehicles sold in the month. The all-new A6 and A7 feature Audi’s industry-leading navigation and safety technology, including MMIฎ Navigation plus with Google Earth™, Audi connect™ featuring available wireless Internet access and Audi night vision assistant with thermal imaging.

With sales of the new Audi A8 flagship sedan included, demand for the most luxurious Audi cars equaled 23% of the overall Audi sales mix in September.

Year-to-date sales of the popular Audi Q7 full-size luxury sport-utility vehicle increased 30.8% to 6,764 vehicles sold, when compared to 2010. The Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel model accounted for 46.5% of the sales mix in the lineup. Demand remained strong for the Audi A3, with an increase of 9.9% YTD sales compared to 2010. As consumers continued to show preferences for efficiency, the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel model accounted for 51% of the total A3 sales mix for the month.

The reintroduction of the Audi TT RS sports car helped spur total Audi TT sales to an increase of 153% from a year earlier with 210 vehicles sold in September. Audi TT YTD sales increased 27.1% to 1,662 vehicles sold.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales of 2,871 vehicles mark the best September on record and the seventh-consecutive record month. Year-to-date sales of 28,389 put Audi on track to deliver one of the best CPO years on record.

For the record-setting month of September 2011, Audi recorded YTD sales increases of over 25% with four of its models: the Audi A8, the Audi Q7, the Audi R8 and the Audi TT. In addition, the Audi southern regions experienced strong gains, with YTD sales jumping 20% to 20,966 vehicles sold. The Texas and Atlanta markets were especially strong in September.

"Our strong third quarter sales figures clearly reinforce that Audi is a luxury market leader,” said Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. "All indications continue to point toward 2011 winding up as the best year Audi has ever enjoyed in the U.S. market with even more sales growth ahead."


Audi sales highlights – September 2011
• New company record set in September with 9,725 vehicles sold, topping the previous record of 8,151 vehicles sold in September 2010.
• Audi sales in the U.S. grew 15.5% to 84,981 luxury vehicles sold from January 2011 through September 2011.
• Four models within Audi lineup post YTD gains exceeding 25%.

Audi A6, A7 and A8 August sales and news notes
• Strong initial sales for the all-new 2012 A6 with 1,124 vehicles sold, an increase of 42.8% over August 2011.
• 2012 Audi A7 sustains momentum with 693 vehicles sold.
• Audi A8 sales increase 395.2% YOY to 411 vehicles sold; A8 YTD sales up 541.9% to 4,179 vehicles sold.

Audi A3 and Audi Q7 September sales and news notes
• Audi A3 posted strong sales gain with an increase of 9.9 % YTD to 5,023 vehicles sold in September.
• Audi Q7 sales in September up 30.8% YTD, compared to 2010.
• TDI clean diesel technology represented 51% of total A3 sales for August and 46.5% of total Q7 sales for August.

Audi TT September sales and news notes
• Audi TT sales increased 153% from the same period last year to 210 vehicles sold in September 2011; YTD sales experience 27.1% increase with 1,662 vehicles sold in 2011 through September.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales and news notes
• Audi CPO sales up 26% versus 2010.
• YTD sales up 35% with 28,389 vehicles sold.

LexFather

Here are some figures.....