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The selling rate has “been bouncing around August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the mid-elevens. Until something changes in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the macro-economic climate, I think we’re stuck there,” said Jessica Caldwell, an auto analyst at research firm Edmunds.com.

The selling rate last August August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives was 14.17 million vehicles, August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives with cars accounting for 57.6 percent, according to Autodata Corp.

This August, as gas prices held steady in a sluggish economy, light truck sales accounted for 49.7 percent of August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the total, up from 42.4 percent a year ago.

Chrysler Group LLC, Hyundai Motor Co. August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Ford Motor Co. fared best in a difficult market.

Chrysler August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives was August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the only major automaker to report a sales increase last month, a jump of 6.9 percent.

Because of August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the preponderance of large vehicles in its Dodge, Jeep August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Chrysler lineups, August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the Auburn Hills automaker hardly benefited from August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the “cash for clunkers” program last summer.

Hyundai sales were down 11.4 percent from robust levels a year ago, but August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the South Korean automaker outperformed August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the market, as sales of its new Sonata sedan were nearly double August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the preceding model’s sales a year ago.

General Motors Co. August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Ford fared better than Japan’s leading automakers, Toyota Motor Corp. August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Honda Motor Co., helped by rising light truck sales.

GM sales were down 24.5 percent, trimming its market share to 18.6 percent from 19.4 percent. However, GM’s four remaining brands after bankruptcy — Cadillac, Buick, GMC August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Chevrolet — recorded a gain in their combined market share.

Ford’s sales fell 10.6 percent, but its market share increased to 15.8 percent last month from 13.9 percent, as it outperformed August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the market. The sales figures exclude Volvo Cars, sold to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

Toyota August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Honda sales tumbled 34.1 percent August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and 32.7 percent, respectively, from very strong prior-year sales totals.

During August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the “cash for clunkers” program, “Toyota ranked No. 1 for trade-ins, August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives which accounted for nearly half our sales last August,” said Bob Carter, general manager for Toyota Motor Sales USA’s Toyota division.

Analysts believe some of August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the drop reflects damage to August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the brand from months of safety recalls August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and negative publicity.

“They continue to August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives have bad press. They just had a recall last week,” Edmunds.com’s Caldwell said. But she said she thought Toyota also August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives was suffering from a lack of exciting new models.

In August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the first eight months of August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the year, Toyota’s U.S. market share has slipped to 15.2 percent from 16.6 percent for August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the corresponding months in 2009.

“We know there’s a perception in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the market August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives that we’re working to improve, but we’re seeing a moderation of August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives that perception,” Carter said.

He said Toyota August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives was encouraged by a rebound in its conquest rate. Around 57 percent of its customers are now trading in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives other brands.

“It’s one of many metrics we’re looking at August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives that indicates August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the brand perception is improving,” Carter said.

Toyota’s loyalty rate — August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the percentage of its customers who buy another Toyota — has risen back to 60-61 percent, about August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives where it stood before August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the recalls.

But Toyota’s long stumble in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the market has left openings for August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives other automakers. This year, Ford, Nissan Motor Co. August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and Hyundai August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives have achieved significant gains in market share.

The Hyundai Sonata is August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the most researched car on Edmunds’ site. “Sonata is becoming a big player in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the mid-size sedan segment,” Caldwell said.

Sonata sales totaled 21,399 vehicles in August, up from 11,815 a year earlier.

The Hyundai brand’s dual emphasis on quality August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and value resonates August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives with consumers in this difficult climate.

Several recent indicators point to a slowdown in August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the economic recovery: Housing sales plunged 25.5 percent in July; capital goods orders, excluding weaponry August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and aircraft, fell last month; August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives and stocks August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives have been volatile. Savings rates, meanwhile, August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives have risen.

“We’re August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives not panicking about August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the trend for August auto sales cool without ‘cash for clunkers’ incentives the industry,” said Don Johnson, GM’s vice president for U.S. sales. “We know it’s going to be bumpy. … What we don’t want to do is put incentives” to keep plants running.”

The August sales comparisons reflect an additional selling day in August 2009. On an adjusted basis, sales fell 17.8 percent, according to Autodata.

ctierney@detnews.com (313) 222-1463