DETROIT—Ford Motor Co.'s sales analyst on Friday said the U.S. auto industry will continue on its current pace and finish the year with sales of slightly more than 11 million new cars and trucks.
April sales finished at an annual rate of 11.2 million vehicles, and industry analyst Edmunds.com has forecast a May rate of 11.4 million.
The market will continue its modest recovery in the U.S., Ford's George Pipas said. Mr. Pipas said he has yet to see any economic movements that would cause an unexpected sales jump.
"May is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get month," Mr. Pipas said. "This is where the consumer is."
He also said auto makers continue to hold off on incentives as they focus on profitability rather than quickly increasing market share. The forecast came on the same day that Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally sidestepped questions about the auto maker's plans to kill its slumping Mercury brand.
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April sales finished at an annual rate of 11.2 million vehicles, and industry analyst Edmunds.com has forecast a May rate of 11.4 million.
The market will continue its modest recovery in the U.S., Ford's George Pipas said. Mr. Pipas said he has yet to see any economic movements that would cause an unexpected sales jump.
"May is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get month," Mr. Pipas said. "This is where the consumer is."
He also said auto makers continue to hold off on incentives as they focus on profitability rather than quickly increasing market share. The forecast came on the same day that Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally sidestepped questions about the auto maker's plans to kill its slumping Mercury brand.
Read more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704596504575272633368693528.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines