- Nissan Says It Will "Plug" Electric Cars In U.S. By 2010
- Hybrid Backlash: Your Comments On My "Critical" Post
- Hot Hybrids: Paying More to Save on Gas
- Toyota's Profits Slowing Down, But Don't Write Them Off Yet

- Chevy Malibu: A Good (Selling) Car For Tough Times
- Chrysler's "Free Gas" Offer: Not Sure I'm Buying It

- Ford And Why I Think It Will Sell Volvo--Do You Agree?
- Remember Cars? Sales Show Their "Death" Premature
- Truck And SUV Sales Show Drivers Want More Bang For Gas Buck

- GM--Give Them Credit For Putting Turnaround In Gear

- Don't Miss Friday's Show...
- Mr. Potato Head Update
- Macke: Wal-Mart Is A "Buy"

- EnCana's Divide-and-Profit Plan

- Sports Super Agent David Falk: Round Two (And It's A Gem)
- Yahoo Escapes Ironhorse Grip; For Now
- HP, EDS and IBM on the Move
- HP And EDS: Why The Deal? Look To India And IBM
- HP's One-Two "Punch" With Earnings And EDS
- Reader Poll: Will Oil Dip Below $100?
- IAC, Liberty Media Resolve Dispute Over Spinoffs
- Clear Channel Deal to Be Funded at $36 A Share
- HP, EDS and IBM on the Move
- Fed's Yellen: Interest Rates at Appropriate Level
- Stocks Are Facing Key Test As Investors Seek Stability
- Home Brew for the Car, Not the Beer Cup
- A Wish List for Fixing Wall Street
- Economy Sluggish, Inflation Higher: Fed Survey
- Long Bonds Stumble on Economic Indicators
- Nissan Plans Electric Car in U.S. by ’10

![]() |
Source: chevorlet.com 2008 Chevy Malibu |
Since going on sale last fall, the Malibu has been everything GM [GM
Loading...
(%)
]promised, and more. According to J.D.Power's Power Information Network, the average transaction price ($21,941) is $5,071 higher than the previous Malibu. And 56% of the Malibu's being bought by people who previously owned non-Chevy models. That's 10% more than the rest of the Chevy line-up.
It also has a higher conquest rate against Toyota [TM
Loading...
(%)
] , Honda [HMC
Loading...
(%)
] , and Nissan [NSANY
Loading...
(%)
] than the rest of Chevy. On top of that Malibu sales were up 55% in April while GM, and the whole industry slumped. You get the picture. Malibu is turning heads.
It's hard to find cars that sell well in tough times. Yes, Toyota's Prius is a winner right now (up 22.6% this year). In large part because high gas prices make the gas/electric hybrid more attractive. Among other cars welling well, there's the Ford Focus (up 29.1% in '08) and Honda Civic (up 14.8% this year). They all share the common trait of being smaller, more fuel efficient cars. But on top of that, they are also well designed.
With its cars in demand and production pressured by higher costs, Toyota is raising the sticker on some of it's models. The Yaris and Camry will go up $200, and the hybrid Camry will soon cost $300 more. It says something about the success of these models that Toyota can raise prices in the midst of a struggling economy. All three are in demand, and I doubt the modest price increases will have much of an effect on sales.
So while the overall state of auto sales is not pretty, don't forget the age old truth. Good cars will sell even in tough times.
Questions? Comments?




