DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday that U.S. sales fell 10.9 percent in June for all of its brands, at the top of its expectations for the only U.S. automaker not supported by emergency government loans.

Ford sales fell to 155,195 vehicles in June, from 174,091 vehicles a year earlier. For its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands, sales fell 11.3 percent to 148,153 vehicles.

Volvo sales rose 0.6 percent to 7,042 vehicles in June from a year earlier.

In the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury brands, car sales fell 17 percent from a year earlier, crossover sales fell 4.3 percent, SUV sales fell 20.4 percent and truck and van sales fell 6.9 percent, Ford said.

Ford expected to post a sales decline in the 10 to 20 percent range in June. It also expects U.S. auto industry sales to be down in the 25 to 30 percent range.

The automaker said on Monday it had increased planned third-quarter production in North America by 5.4 percent to 485,000 vehicles from its initial production plan of 460,000 vehicles.

Ford produced 418,000 vehicles in the third quarter of 2008 and the increase in quarterly production on a year-over-year basis is the first for the automaker in two years.

U.S. rivals General Motors Corp and Chrysler have curtailed production sharply to work through their bankruptcy sale programs.

NEW YORK – Automotive parts supplier Lear Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday after receiving support it needed from lenders and bondholders to reorganize its struggling business.

The move had been expected from the maker of vehicle seats and electronics, which missed an interest payment on its bond debt last week and revealed its intention to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The Southfield, Mich.-based company made the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

It listed $1.27 billion in assets and $4.54 billion in liabilities. Subsidiaries outside the U.S. and Canada are not part of the filings, the company said.

Cadillac Fragrance?

Saw this on the morning news, a new scent for men, and thought it was too funny. Then I checked out a website and its even funnier. See http://lastheplace.com/2008/12/04/cadillac-fragrance-for-men-set-to-debut-worldwide/



Yes, hard to believe but some equate the name "Cadillac" with sexy. The only women who seem to think so, (see the article) are Jackie Collins and Cloris Leachman.

It seems appropriate somehow that the kind of babes who think highly of Cadillac are one step short of the geriatric ward.

GM said its improved performance was fueled by new products including the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car, and the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain midsize crossover vehicles. The company's top sellers through October were the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and Impala full-size car.

The Camaro with a V6 gets excellent mileage.
Much better than an Accord or Camry for example.

I meant the Accord or Camry with a V6.

I meant the Accord or Camry with a V6.

Chevrolet Camaro 6 cyl, 3.6 L, Automatic 18/29
Toyota Camry 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Automatic 19/28

EPA

But the Camry hauls more lardasses and baggage.

But the Camry hauls more lardasses and baggage.

US carmaker General Motors (GM) has said it will start paying back its government loans earlier than expected.

It will make its first payment of $1.2bn (£717m) to the US government in December. GM had not been required to begin repaying the loan until 2015.......

GM owes the US $6.7bn and the Canadian government $1.4bn. Canada will also receive its first payment in December.

Not if you get the Coupe.