7 Out of Every 10 Cars and Light Trucks Bought by Americans in 1997 Were Made by America's Car Companies
12 January 1998
7 Out of Every 10 Cars and Light Trucks Bought by Americans in 1997 Were Made by America's Car Companies
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- The continuing popularity of light
trucks built by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors helped America's Car
Companies sell far more vehicles than their foreign competitors in 1997,
according to the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA).
Chrysler, Ford and General Motors sold more than five million passenger
cars last year in addition to nearly six million light trucks. In all, nearly
11 million vehicles produced by the three automakers -- or 7 out of every 10
vehicles -- were bought by American consumers. The three companies sold three
times as many vehicles as their Japanese counterparts and again dwarfed sales
of European and Korean cars and trucks in the U.S.
"The extraordinary appeal of light trucks continued in 1997," according to
AAMA President & CEO Andrew H. Card, Jr. "Sales of Chrysler, Ford and GM
products accounted for nearly 85% of the total U.S. light truck market. For a
variety of reasons -- utility, safety and styling -- consumers can't wait to
get behind the wheel of a minivan, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. And
America's Car Companies helped millions of drivers do just that in 1997."
Overall the U.S. auto market remains strong, according to Card. Sales of
more than 15-million vehicles were posted for the fourth consecutive year.
Chrysler, Ford and GM captured 71.7% of the U.S. passenger car and light truck
market, AAMA reported. "Strong sales by the nation's largest manufacturing
industry which supports more than 2.3-million jobs nationwide is proof
positive that America's Car Companies are an engine of economic growth. In
1997, what America drove, drove America," Card added.
AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation
, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation
. Visit the AAMA's site on the World Wide Web at
http://www.aama.com.
SOURCE American Automobile Manufacturers Association
