FROM THE WASHINGTON POST: The U.S. auto market continued its slow crawl out of the recession in December as more consumers bought cars, but shoppers’ enthusiasm remained well below pre-crisis days.
In December, the annualized rate of auto sales in the United States climbed to 11.2 million, according to Edmunds.com. That’s up from 9.1 million at the nadir earlier last year but far from the halcyon days when auto sales ran over 16 million annually.
“The recession shook the foundations of consumer confidence,” said Ken Czubay, Ford’s vice president of U.S. sales and marketing. MORE»
Congrats Ford. Near death is a profound motivator.