Auto Industry Outlook Positive

Many executives predicted a recovery in the auto industry in 2010 as Ford and Toyota posted strong results for December. Capping a comparatively great year—its first full-year market-share gain in 14 years—Ford showed a 33 percent increase in December for light-vehicle sales. Chrysler, on the other hand, had its worst sales in 47 years, posting a 3.7 percent decline. GM posted a 5.7 percent decline, but said selling down Pontiac and Saturn was ahead of schedule and the four brands the auto maker is keeping posted a 2.2 percent increase. Still, Toyota sold nearly as many vehicles in the U.S. as GM in December. Honda and Nissan also showed strong sales. But despite the end-of-year uptick, 2009 saw the lowest number of vehicle sales—10.4 million—since 1982.