An indicator of whether U.S. sales end 2016 higher than 2015 could be how the market’s Top 3 players – General Motors, Ford and Toyota – react to a possible downturn in demand.
How GM, Ford and Toyota react to the downturn – whether streamlining production, raising market incentives or a combination of both – could determine the year’s final outcome.
Flat North American production, and additional selling days in June and July, will lift sales volumes, perhaps allowing the industry to avoid a huge summer sell-off.
April’s SAAR is likely to spike upward from March, but because it is a rarity for two consecutive months to have more selling days than normal, averaging the totals for both months will be best to judge the...