May auto sales a mixed bag; GM does well despite bankruptcy, Chrysler doesn't

June 2, 10:33 PMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt

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 The Ford F-Series is once again the best-selling vehicle in the country.

After a surge in Honda Accord sales upset the usual best-seller order in April, the Ford F-Series full-size pickup is once again the highest-volume vehicle in the U.S. and the Toyota Camry is again the best-selling passenger car. 

Despite steady increases over last month from many automakers, the Accord's sales fell back to levels more in line with other recent months. Civic sales fell off as well, and declines from Honda's two highest-volume products led the automaker to fall 38 percent last month compared to a strong May 2008. 

Toyota, despite a big jump in sales of its top-selling Camry over last month, also posted a big loss over a strong May 2008 -- 40 percent. 

And Chrysler, whose Dodge Ram pickup had spent years as the No. 3 seller in the country, fell off the top ten list last month after that truck's 2009-model redesign failed to stimulate sales.

---See the best-seller sales chart below this article---

Chrysler, which spent all of May under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saw sales slide to barely half of last May's levels, a trend consistent with other recent months. 

But General Motors, which filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday, had not done poorly last month, with a relatively modest sales decline of 29 percent. GM's best sales performances came from several key Chevrolet products: the Impala and Malibu sedans, the HHR wagon, and the Silverado pickup, but many of the best sellers from other brands posted big losses. 

Ford, widely considered the healthiest of the Big Three after it did not request any emergency federal loans, did even better, declining just 26 percent. The bulk of the decline is from Ford Focus compact car and the F-Series pickup, offset by continued strong sales by the midsize Ford Fusion -- just redesigned for 2010 -- and more modest declines by the Ford Escape compact SUV and redesigned 2010 Mustang sporty car. 

Also, Ford's Lincoln division was the only brand to post a sales increase last month over May 2008 -- of 2.4 percent, thanks to the new MKS large sedan and a big sales jump in the aging full-size Town Car. 

Nissan saw its sales fall by a third after sales of its Versa and Sentra compact and Altima midsize cars were cut in half compared to May 2008, though the midsize Maxima sedan and Rogue compact SUVs had a strong month. 

Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru, which have been among the few automakers that have posted any sales increases in recent months, each saw declines last month compared to May 2008, but none were steep. 

Hyundai's otherwise strong sales were damaged by poor performance from the Elantra compact car, whose sales were cut almost in half last month compared to May 2008 despite a new station wagon version. Similarly, Kia would have posted an increase if it were not for a collapse in its midsize Optima sales. Most Subarus held steady last month, evening out to a decline of five percent compared to May 2008.