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40 percent plunge in March auto sales
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Posted on Apr 02 2009
An average of one new vehicle was sold daily in March, compared to almost two a day during the same month last year as the economy continues its downward spiral.
Automotive dealers sold 31 new cars, trucks, vans and sports utility vehicles in March, a 40-percent drop from 52 a year ago, data released yesterday by the three-member Commonwealth Auto Dealers Association showed.
This brings to 95 the total number of new vehicles sold during the first quarter of 2009, a 50-percent plunge from 190 sold during the same period last year.
The number of used or secondhand vehicles sold—33—was more than two units compared to new units sold in March.
Microl Corp. sold 13 new Toyota units in March, a 48-percent drop from last year’s 25.
Triple “J” Motors, the authorized dealer of new Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki and Mazda, sold 12 new units both in March 2008 and 2009.
Joeten Motors, meanwhile, sold only six new units in March, a 60-percent drop from a year ago. Joeten Motors is the authorized dealer of new Nissan, Ford, Honda and Kia.
Cars remain the vehicle of choice, with 22 units sold in March, followed by six SUVs, two trucks, and one van.
Of all the makes and models, Mazda3 topped the sales chart with six units in March, followed by five new units each of Toyota Corolla and Toyota Yaris.
