U.S. auto sales cooled in may

US auto sales cooled DETROIT - in may as traders recently shortly on some popular, fuel-efficient models and buyer disabled by lower incentives.

Offers are not likely to return until the end of this summer. Some experts are advising people to delay their purchases when they can.

"If you don't buy, you wait until the autumn." If you rent a car, it said "Edmunds chief Jeremy Anwyl.",

This message is part of consumers in May. US auto sales were around one million cars and trucks, 8 percent from April, and 4 percent from last May.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co., which caused lack of earthquake in Japan behind the models due to parts on 11 March, had the largest revenue decreases with Toyota by 33 percent, Honda from 23 percent and Nissan off 9 percent compared to may last year.

General Motors Corp. sales fell 1.2 percent, as the decline in sales offset pickup-truck cars-strong sales of more fuel efficient and crossovers. It was the same story at Ford Motor Co., the sales case saw 2.4 percent for the month. Pickup sales fell more than 10 percent of both companies.

Again, small, compact and medium-sized passenger car sales increased and truck sales fell due to high gas prices.

At Ford, where the F-series pickup is traditionally the best-selling vehicle in the United States, fuel consumption significantly drove sales. For the first time in decades, the company sold more F-150 s with V6 engine (55 percent) than with larger V8.

Despite a number of bad economic data in recent days, automakers said sticking with annual forecasts of around 13 million in U.S. sales typically they were still optimistic for the year, with Ford and General Motors. This is far behind the top 2000 of 17.3 million, but better than the trough 10.4 million in 2009.

Ford increases even third quarter production to 8 percent over the previous year and its Chief Economist Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, said there were good economic news with the bad, moderate including gas prices, low interest rates and better availability of credits.

"We warn against reading too much into the monthly data," she said.

Don Johnson, GM Vice President of sales, said that people are a "wait and see" approach, such as gas prices fluctuate around $4 a gallon. Construction remains weak hurting truck sales.

Nevertheless, Johnson feels long term consumer confidence remains high, and is catching up with drivers, longer than usual their vehicles during the recession held. He expected increase expenditure at the end of summer sales and incentive.

"All things considered, we continue to believe that will rest on the line," he said.

Automakers use cutting offers generally the warmer months and remove old inventory to make room for new models in the autumn. But this year, they have to sit not many last year's models. Production had to reduce Japanese automakers after the earthquake and domestic automaker cars can produce any faster. Automakers will cause prices to make for the higher price of steel and other raw materials.

Offered their lowest incentives in six years last month, according to Edmunds, spend the auto companies $2,094 per vehicle on sweeteners, such as rebates and low-interest loans on average. This is flat from April and almost 20 percent lower than in May 2010. prices on Japanese cars on average $610 per vehicle have increased since the quake, said Edmunds.

Bottlenecks are the biggest reason. IHS automotive estimates that the US has around 400,000 of fewer cars in the inventory as it should have in the current sales pace. Toyota began may with only enough Prius hybrids for 10 days of sales. A 60-day supply is considered healthy.

As a result is the Prius, which is manufactured in Japan, according to Kelley Blue book sell for 2 percent of the of the manufacturer recommended retail price of $23250, a premium now $5,000. Before the quake, it was for 1 to 2 percent below this price sell.

Even some sales are small fuel consumption from the earthquake affected in tight supply. GM said it has only a 37-day supply of the Chevrolet Cruze compact car.

Alec Gutierrez, Manager which vehicle review for Kelley Blue book, expected rates high is in the case. Then a likely drop in gas prices and increase should return them the Japanese production to more normal levels. Honda Motor Co. said last week that the North American production to almost normal levels will return in August. But production of civic popular, fuel-efficient, which still lacks critical parts from Japan, will take back longer.

Rising prices Bradd Levin of Stamford, Connecticut, asked to go and buy a 2011 pilot Honda in May. Levin and his wife expected her third child in December, so he planned you already buy a larger vehicle this fall. He thought, demand would be low after the small SUV, because it's not so good on fuel than some smaller cars.

But Levin, a 35-year-old salesman at a plumbing supply business, was frightened, when Honda its annual percentage rate offer raised and took a $750 cash incentive in May. Then he heard from his dealer and others who could be short pilots with navigation to deliver because the chips used for them in Japan are made. He decided to buy the pilot while he received a 2.9 percent rate and less than the suggested price to pay.

Other automakers reporting Wednesday:

Volkswagen of America said the sedan and station wagon were sales by almost 28 percent for the month, mainly due to a 59 percent increase in sales of its redesigned Jetta. It is a VW best sales month more than seven years. Hyundai Motor Co. said sales of compact car rose by 21 percent in May to more than 59,000 vehicles, under the direction of the redesigned Elantra. Sales of the Elantra doubled over 20.000. were Kia Motors America sales by 53 percent to more than 48,000, under the direction of Sorrento-crossover, which was 53 per cent.

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