Big Three post declines in April sales - May. 2, 2006 The Internet home of:Subscribe to Fortune | Free Trial SYMBOL LOOK-UP Entire Site FORTUNE Money Business 2.0 FORTUNE Small Business Web HOMENEWSMARKETSTECHNOLOGYJOBS & ECONOMYPERSONAL FINANCEAUTOSREAL ESTATESMALL BUSINESSLISTS Main Companies Economy World Business Newsmakers Fun Money Corrections Main Portfolio News Indexes Pre-Market After-Hours Bonds Commodities Currencies Actives Gainers Losers Earnings Hot Stocks Sivy on Stocks Investor Research Center IPOs Main Personal Tech Sectors & Stocks Fortune 500 Tech 100 Fastest-Growing Techs B2Day Blog Game Over Main Economic Calendar Fed Focus Top 50 Best Jobs Best Companies to Work For 100 Top MBA Employers Ask Annie Employment Rates Compare Cost of Living Find a Job Main Retirement Funds ETFs Five Tips Sivy on Stocks College Insurance Taxes Interest Rates Portfolio Money 101 Main Best Cars 2006 New Cars Used Cars Financing Reviews Tips & Advice Main Best Places to Live Home Affordability Tool Compare Cost of Living Latest home prices Money 101 Mortgage Rates Real Estate Tips Main Hot Startups 100 Fastest-Growing Techs FSB 100 10 Top Entrepreneur Colleges Main Fortune 500 Global 500 Fortune 500 archive Best Places to Live Best Cars 2006 Best Companies to Work For Most Admired Companies 100 Top MBA Employers Top 50 Best Jobs 50 Small-Cap Stock Picks Sivy 70: Best Stocks MONEY 65: Best Funds Boom Towns Best Places to Retire 100 Fastest-Growing Techs 101 Dumbest Moments 50 Most Powerful Women FSB 100 Big Three April sales slumped Detroit automakers under pressure last month; Ford sees big drop in SUV, pickup sales; Toyota, Honda gain. May 2, 2006: 2:36 PM EDT NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Sales at Detroit's Big Three automakers tumbled in April while Japanese automakers gained, the companies said Tuesday. GM (up $0.56 to $23.20, Research) said sales slipped 10.7 percent on an unadjusted basis for the month of April to 339,796 new cars and trucks from a year earlier. GM releases its sales figures adjusted for the daily sales rate. Because of one less sales day in April 2006, it reported only a 7.3 percent decline in sales. Autos on the brain How to shop for a fuel-efficient car Keeping fuel economy in mind early can make a big difference. (more) Bush said to meet with car chiefs Industry officials say that the President will discuss pension and energy issues with heads of U.S. auto makers. (more) Leave the driving to the car Cruise control? How very 90s. These cars can brake -- even park -- themselves. (more) Video More video Gasoline is included in a new car-sharing service. CNN's Ines Ferre reports (April 29) Play video Ford (up $0.02 to $6.93, Research), the No. 2 automaker, said overall sales slipped 7 percent to 262,722 compared to last year, while DaimlerChrysler (down $0.35 to $54.25, Research) reported total U.S. sales sank 6 percent to 211,365 passenger vehicles for April 2006. Sales at the automaker's key North American unit Chrysler Group, which includes the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, fell 8 percent. Ford's and Chrysler's results do not take into account that there was one less selling day during the month of April this year. While Detroit automakers suffered, Japanese automakers did well. Toyota reported an 8.5 percent jump, while Honda (up $1.29 to $36.98, Research) said its sales climbed 6.5 percent. Auto sales tracker Edmunds.com had anticipated on an unadjusted basis GM's April sales would sink 10 percent, Ford's sales would fall 8 percent while Chrysler would dip by 3 percent. GM said total passenger car sales were down 18 percent, and truck sales were up 2 percent, helped by sales of the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. "Given that the industry came in somewhat below our initial expectations, we are pleased that our retail sales were in line with the targets established in our North America turnaround plan," Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president of vehicle sales, said in a statement. Ford (up $0.02 to $6.93, Research) said its passenger car sales climbed 8 percent last month, boosted by strength in mid-sized vehicles like the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. "These new, fuel-efficient cars are helping our dealers to retain owners and capture new ones," Al Giombetti, president of marketing and sales for Ford and Lincoln Mercury, said in a statement. But the automaker blamed a 15 percent decline in light truck sales, which include SUVs, pick-up trucks and minivans, for the dip in total sales. Ford said sales of its Ford Explorer tumbled 42 percent from a year earlier, while its F Series pickup truck, the nation's best-selling vehicle, slipped 9.3 percent. Rising gasoline prices have dragged on U.S. automakers' SUV sales as consumers have sought more fuel-efficient vehicles. Subaru and BMW both boasted solid increases in U.S. sales. _______________ Ford plans to cut prices on its '07 models -- click here. For more news on autos and automakers, click here. SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | More Economy Getting the price(s) right Housing slowdown could hurt construction jobs Pump prices keep climbing The Hot List 'Overpriced' housing gets more overpriced Nice nest egg ... but retire at 47? What makes a resume scream: Don't hire me Top Stories Wall Street rate-hike fright 'Overpriced' homes more overpriced Oil tumbles on weaker Alberto Nice nest egg ... but retire at 47? 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