And now for something entirely different......
Chrysler's December sales fell 53% to 89,813 vehicles from 191,423 a year ago.
Ford Motor Co. posted a 32% drop in U.S. light-vehicle sales for December.
Toyota Motor Co. reported a 37% fall.
Honda Motor Co. had a 35% decline.
GM reported a 31% drop in December U.S. light vehicle sales to 220,030 cars and trucks from 319,837 in December 2007.
That makes for the auto industry's worst year in more than 15 years.
So what's up with Chrysler. No one buying those pimpin' 300's anymore? The shine's all worn off the PT Cruiser phenomenon? I'd still love to have one of those new Challengers! Yes, it's a guy thing. So it gets 12mpg it also does 0-60 in 4.somthing (SRT8). Maybe in few years I can pick one up for a song.....
Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Santa Monica-based Edmunds, said declines were especially pronounced in places such as the Inland region, where high rates of home foreclosures suppressed consumer spending and led to higher numbers of car dealership closures.
At least 10 Inland auto dealerships shut their doors or announced planned shutdowns in 2008. While 2008 auto sales fell 25 to 30 percent for all of California, Toprak estimated the Inland region's drop was 35 to 40 percent.
"We've seen the biggest percentage drop (within California) in the Inland Empire," Toprak said in a media conference call. "The areas most affected by the housing crisis have seen the biggest declines in sales."