美国汽车新闻 Auto sales continue slide; Ford, GM down more than 40%

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Detroit's two biggest automakers reported that their March auto sales were down more than 40 percent each, while Chrysler LLC and the three Japanese automakers reported declines of 39 percent or lower.

General Motors Corp. led the slide with a 45 percent U.S. sales plunge compared with a year earlier, while Ford Motor Co. reported a 41 percent drop. Chrysler sales for March dropped 39 percent, the same decline as Toyota Motor Corp. Sales of Honda Motor Co. reported a 36 percent decline, the strongest showing of the larger automakers. Nissan Motor Co. was off by 38 percent.

"Sales for GM and the industry showed signs of life at the end of the month compared with January and February," said Mark LaNeve, GM vice president in charge of North America sales, service and marketing.

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But high unemployment and weak consumer confidence continued remained a problem for the overall market.

Ford said it sold 131,465 vehicles in March, down from 222,337 a year ago. Inventory was pared 27 percent from a year ago to bring production more in line with the low sales rate automakers are experiencing this year.

GM sold a total of 156,380 new vehicles last month.

To stem those losses for the coming months, GM and Ford announced they would offer payment protection plans to help reassure consumers who may be putting off buying a new car because of worries about losing their job. Ford said it will cover payments of up to $700 each month for up to a year on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if consumers lose their jobs. The program runs until June 1.

Under GM's program, the company will make up to nine car payments of $500 each for customers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The program starts runs until April 30.

Customers must qualify for state unemployment to be eligible.