tarabell
07-20-2007, 01:12 PM
Brands such as Toyota and Honda with fuel-efficient reputations continue to thrive (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/07/23/story2.html?b=1185163200%5E1494300)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Lincoln_Mercury_Dealership.jpg Rich Kirchen –The Business Journal of Milwaukee -- July 20, 2007
Higher gas prices are driving some Milwaukee-area buyers to import automotive brands and keeping other cash-strapped buyers on the sidelines. During the first half of 2007, auto dealerships in southeast Wisconsin sold 2.7 percent fewer vehicles than in the first half of 2006, according to a report by Reg-Trak, Waterloo, which tracks vehicle registrations for both new and used cars.
The fact that sales figures so far in 2007 are running behind 2006 is not encouraging to dealers because "2006 was a mediocre year," said Don Hansen, president of the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee. Figures in Milwaukee in the first half of 2007 were slightly worse than the nationwide decline of 1.5 percent.
The Milwaukee area lagged other Midwestern markets, including Chicago and the Twin Cities, that recorded healthy sales increases, said Jim Reifenrath, general manager of Wilde Honda in Waukesha. "There are some very hot markets in the Midwest," he said. "Milwaukee isn't participating."
Brands such as Toyota and Honda with fuel-efficient reputations continued to thrive in southeast Wisconsin during the first six months of 2007, with increases of 22.3 percent and 7.2 percent respectively, for cars sold. Domestic lines such as Chevrolet, which was down 9.4 percent, and Ford cars, down 24.4 percent, continued to slump. http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/07/23/story2.html?b=1185163200%5E1494300
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Lincoln_Mercury_Dealership.jpg Rich Kirchen –The Business Journal of Milwaukee -- July 20, 2007
Higher gas prices are driving some Milwaukee-area buyers to import automotive brands and keeping other cash-strapped buyers on the sidelines. During the first half of 2007, auto dealerships in southeast Wisconsin sold 2.7 percent fewer vehicles than in the first half of 2006, according to a report by Reg-Trak, Waterloo, which tracks vehicle registrations for both new and used cars.
The fact that sales figures so far in 2007 are running behind 2006 is not encouraging to dealers because "2006 was a mediocre year," said Don Hansen, president of the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee. Figures in Milwaukee in the first half of 2007 were slightly worse than the nationwide decline of 1.5 percent.
The Milwaukee area lagged other Midwestern markets, including Chicago and the Twin Cities, that recorded healthy sales increases, said Jim Reifenrath, general manager of Wilde Honda in Waukesha. "There are some very hot markets in the Midwest," he said. "Milwaukee isn't participating."
Brands such as Toyota and Honda with fuel-efficient reputations continued to thrive in southeast Wisconsin during the first six months of 2007, with increases of 22.3 percent and 7.2 percent respectively, for cars sold. Domestic lines such as Chevrolet, which was down 9.4 percent, and Ford cars, down 24.4 percent, continued to slump. http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/07/23/story2.html?b=1185163200%5E1494300