General Motors announced plans to slash second quarter production by 34% as it reported a whopping 53% drop in year-on-year U.S. sales for February. GM said it would cut second quarter production to 550,000 vehicles from 834,000 vehicles in the second quarter of 2008. Truck production will fall to 355,000 units from 452,000 in 2008 while car production will be cut to 195,000 units from 382,000 vehicles in 2008.
GM estimated that total retail sales for the month were down 45% compared with February 2008, which would make it the weakest February since 1967. GM said its poor performance in February was driven by a 75% reduction in low-margin fleet sales.
"It remains a tough and challenging market, but seeing some upticks in volume and showroom traffic compared with last month is encouraging," Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president for North American sales, service and marketing said.
GM delivered 127,296 vehicles in February. Car sales of 53,813 units were off 50% and truck sales including crossovers of 73,483 were down 55% compared with a year ago.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
译文:
美国通用产量跌减53%【奇客】
通用汽车公司宣布计划将第二季度产量削减34%，正如报告所示美国二月销售大幅降至去年同期53%。通用公司表示他们将由2008年第二季度的834.000辆减至550.000辆汽车。货车产量将由08年的452.000降至355.000辆，与此同时，轿车产量则由08年的382.000辆减到195.000辆。
通用公司估计本月总零售值会比08年二月少45%，这就会使其成为自1967年二月以来最惨淡销的售季。通用公司表示其二月的不佳表现是由低利润促销导致的。
“市场还是艰巨而富有挑战性的，但与上个月相比一些交易量与车展交易的上扬还是使人振奋的。”通用北美营销市场副总裁Mark Laneve说道。
通用于二月已交出127.296辆汽车。轿车销售53.813辆，少了50%。货车则销售了73.483辆，其中包括跨越车型，比去年降低55%。