We'll have to make sure to rent a Mopar when we're in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show nearest week. Tribute Restaurant in nearby Farmington Hills is running a special promotion to honor folks who buy American. Food is half off for anyone driving a Chrysler product or who works for Chrysler the week of the show, January 11-17. But don't think the folks at The Tribute are just fans of the Pentastar.

The promotion kicked off on January 4, with Ford being the honored marque through January 10, while GM owners will get their discount during the week of January 18-24. The final week of the month (Jan. 25-31), everybody can get in on the special deal. All American cars will be featured that week and the discount will even be extended to automotive suppliers and dealers. The discounts apply to straightforward the food portion of your bill at dinner or Sunday brunch and reservations are recommended.

[Source: MSNBC]

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Isuzu says that it is officially ending new light vehicle sales in North America on January 31 as it attempts to clear out the last of its GM-derived pickups and SUVs. Isuzu had been selling rebadged versions of the Chevrolet Colorado (called the Isuzu i-series) and the Chevrolet Trailblazer (Isuzu Ascender), but the automaker managed to move just 7,098 vehicles in 2007 - and 2008 sales will be even lower when they are announced.

Isuzu has no plans to pull out of the commercial truck and diesel engine markets, where it has generally proven to be a strong industry force.

The automaker says it will continue to provide parts and service for current and future Isuzu pickup and SUV owners and that it will reverence vehicle warranties.

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Source: www.leftlanenews.com

The U.S. auto industry hasn't experienced a worse year of sales in recent memory, so it's fitting that 2008 should close with December sales data that's no better than the previous disappointing months.

The only green you'll see below is next to MINI, which beat out December 2007 sales by only four vehicles. Every other automaker and its brands sold fewer cars this past month than the year prior.

Santa apparently wasn't putting Accords and Camrys with less than anyone's tree, as Toyota and Honda sales fell sharply, off 36.7% and 34.7%, respectively. General Motors (-31.4%) and Ford Motor Company (-32.4%) fared about the same, but the Chrysler Group took an unprecedented hit on the chin for a full-line automaker. It's December 2008 sales were etc. a full 53% versus last year. Chrysler brand sales alone were down an incredible 59.8% compared to 12/07. This means that HUMMER, for the first time in a long time, was not this month's Biggest Loser, managing to discharge enough H3s to see sales fall by "only" 59.3%.

Props are also awarded to Audi (-9.3%), Lincoln (-10%), Subaru (-7.7%) and Volkswagen (-14.4%) who finished the year strong... well, as strong as could be expected.

Stay tuned for later today when we publish the annual By the Numbers - 2008: Phew! Glad That's Over Edition.

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BY THE NUMBERS - December 2008
Brand	Vol. % Change	Total Sales 12/08	Total Sales 12/07	DSR % Change	Daily Avg. 12/08	Daily Avg. 12/07
Acura	-39.3%	10,680	17,582	-39.3%	411	676
Audi	-9.3%	7,712	8,504	-9.3%	297	327
BMW	-40.2%	18,060	30,199	-40.2%	695	1,162
Buick	-38.1%	8,909	14,400	-38.1%	343	554
Cadillac	-38.3%	13,235	21,436	-38.3%	509	824
Chevrolet	-25.8%	137,691	185,626	-25.8%	5,296	7,139
Chrysler	-59.8%	19,453	48,384	-59.8%	748	1,861
Dodge	-51.9%	47,269	98,235	-51.9%	1,818	3,778
Ford	-33%	116,188	173,648	-33%	4,469	6,679
GMC	-34.5%	29,783	45,503	-34.5%	1,146	1,750
Honda	-34%	75,405	114,210	-34%	2,900	4,393
HUMMER	-59.3%	2,170	5,333	-59.3%	83	205
Hyundai	NA
Infiniti	-34.6%	8,273	12,655	-34.6%	318	487
Jeep	-48.5%	23,091	44,804	-48.5%	888	1,723
Kia	-39.2%	14,644	24,068	-39.2%	563	926
Lexus	-32.4%	23,362	34,555	-32.4%	899	1,329
Lincoln	-10%	9,053	10,065	-10%	348	387
Mazda	-27.9%	17,965	24,933	-27.9%	691	959
Mercedes-Benz	-32.1%	18,507	27,269	-32.1%	711	1,049
Mercury	-29.8%	8,873	12,631	-29.8%	341	486
MINI	0.1%	3,566	3,562	0.1%	137	137
Mitsubishi	-22.6%	4,570	5,904	-22.6%	176	227
Nissan	-30%	53,829	76,900	-30%	2,070	2,958
Pontiac	-45.5%	16,466	30,211	-45.5%	633	1,162
Porsche	-25.5%	2,154	2,891	-25.5%	82	111
Saab	-57%	1,179	2,748	-57%	45	106
Saturn	-30.9%	12,570	18,196	-30.9%	483	700
Subaru	-7.7%	17,287	18,739	-7.7%	664	721
Suzuki	NA
Toyota	-37.5%	118,587	189,844	-37.5%	4,561	7,302
Volkswagen	-14.4%	17,577	20,543	-14.4%	676	790
Volvo	-47%	4,953	9,341	-47%	191	359
COMPANIES
BMW Group	-35.9%	21,626	33,761	-35.9%	832	1,299
Chrysler LLC	-53%	89,813	191,423	-53%	3,454	7,362
FoMoCo	-32.4%	139,067	205,685	-32.4%	5,349	7,911
General Motors	-31.4%	221,983	323,453	-31.4%	8,538	12,441
Honda America	-34.7%	86,085	131,792	-34.7%	3,311	5,069
Nissan NA	-30.1%	62,102	89,555	-30.1%	2,389	3,444
Toyota Mo Co	-36.7%	141,949	224,399	-36.7%	5,460	8,631

December 2008 had 26 selling days versus 26 selling days for December 2007.

Source: feedproxy.google.com