\ ' I ' ! 'I ·. \

THE U.S. AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY: MONTHl Y REPORT ON SELECTED EC NOMIC INDICATORS

·Report to the Subcommittee on Trade, Committee on Ways and Means,

on Investigation No. 332~152

Under Section 332

of the Tariff Act of 1930

USITC PUBLICATION 1438

OCTOBER 1983

United States International Trade Commission I Washi_ngton, D.C. 20436

\.' ' (

' ·ii I I

:1·':

\If '/,,

l·.·.i·f.i ,:I 1 I ~ I 'i

! ( le

,j\: '1il· j[,

l!i ·I

I , I '! :. I !

1!1

1

II I I

I

UNITED STATES INTERNt\ TIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

COMMISSIONERS

Alfred E. Eckes, Chairrrian

Paula Stem

Veronica A. Haggart

Seeley G. Lodwick

Kenneth R. Mason, Secretary to the Commi_ssion

This report was prepared principally by

Jim McElroy and Georgia Jackson

Machinery and Transportation Equipment Branch Machinery and Equipment Division

Office of Industries Norris A. Lynch, Director

Address all communications to

Office of the Secretary

United States International Trade Commission

Washington, D.C. 20436

(

C 0 N T E N T S

Tables

1. New passenger;- automobiles: U.S. retail sales of domestic pro<;luction, production, inventory, days' supply, and employment, by specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983~------------------------------------- 1

2. New passenger automobiles: U.S. imports for consumption, by pdncipal sources and specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983---------------- 2

3. Lightweight automobile trucks and bodies and cab/chassis for light-weight automobile trucks: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources and specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983------ ~

4. New passenger automobiles:, U,S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets and.specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983-~- 4

5. Lightweight automobile trucks and bodies and cab/chassis for light­weight automobile trucks: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets and specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983--~ 5

6. New passenger automobiles: Sales of domestic and imported passenger automobiles and sales of imported passenger automobiles as a percent of total U.S. sales, by specified periods, 1982 and 1983-~--------- 6

7., New passenger automobiles: Price indexes, by specified periods, 1982 and 1983--------------------~-------------------------------~- 6

8. New passenger automobiles: Retail price chat)ges in the U.S. market, -during September i983---------------------------------------------- 1

9. Manufacturers' suggested retail prices of selected U.S. and Japanes~ automobiles, April 1981-0ctober 1983------------------------------ 8

1

Table 1,--New passenger automobiles: U.S. retail sales of domestic production, production, inventory, days' supply, and· employment, by specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983

(In thousands of units; thousands of employees)

1982 and 1983 . . .

1981 and 1982 ·Item

Retail sales of domes-: tic production: ·

August . : September 1983 1983

: Oct. 1982-:Sept. 1983

:September: Oct. 1981-1982 :Sept. 1982

Subcompact~---------: 147 147 1,911 159 1,634 Compact-----...,-------: 71 71 962 73 1, 050 Intermediate--------: 190 197 2,079 145 1,618 Standard------------: 89 87 ~,099 79 ,898 Luxury--------------:......,-_,_.,_;;:3=5__,__,__,__,_~3~6-=-~~~......,-~4~23=--'--~-...-3~3=--'--......,_-~--=3~4.:..:.:..4

Total-------------:_,_~~5~3=1-'-~-...--5~3~8--..;.~~~~6~,~4~74-'--''--......,_-4~8=8'---""~~-=-5~,~54-=-3 Production: ..

Subcompact----------:_ 168 193 1,930 124 1,677 Compact-------------: 66 110 907 68 958 Intermediate--.------: 170 198 2,025 104 1,476 Standard------------: 77 95 917 63 660 Luxury------~-------:_,_......,_--=2~9__,__,__,__,_~3~6_,__,__,_......,-~~4~25=--'----...--...-3~6=--'--_,_~--=3~4.:..:.8

Total-------------:......,_~~5=1~0-'--~~-6=3~2~_,__,_......,-~6~·=20~6=--'--~~3~9~4:_:..~......,--=-5~·=11:..:..9 Inventory:

Subcompact----------: 164 186 : !/ 369 11 Compact-------------: 246 243 !/ 345 11 Intermediate--------: 430 436 !/ 413 11 Standard---·---..:.-----: 175 105 !I 169 : · .!/ Luxury--------------:~~~8~7~~_,_-...-=1=16"'--"--~-...-~l~/~~-=-_,_~--8~3---_,__,__l~I'--~ Total-~------------:~~1~·~1~0=2-'-~-·=l~,0~8~6"-'~~--'1~/......,-_,_.....;_......,-=l~,3~7~9--:._,_~~l~I~_,_

Days' supply: ll . . . Subcompact----------: 49 77 11 111 11 Compact---------·----: 52 79 !I 91 11 Intermediate--------: 55 54 !I 98 !I stanqard------------: 50 55 !I 72 11 Luxury---~----------:~~--"5~6:....-...;._,__,__,_~5~7__,__,__,___;;1~1_,_......,__:__,__,_-=.8~7-'-_,__,_~l~I......,_ __

Total-------------:......,-......,-__,4~8-=-~......,-......,_~55=--'--~--'l~l......,__,__:__,_......,-~8~8=--=~~~1~1~_,_ Employment: ~/

Total employees-----: Production workers--: Layoffs II----------:

11 Not applicable.

y 770 y 578

186

2.1 763 2_1 568

133

1/ 11 11

§_/ 663 §_/ 482 :

236

11 11 11

ll Days' supply is an average for each class size which is determined by dividing total inventory by the previous month's retail sales.

11 Employment data are eor SIC.371 (motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment).

fi.1 D_ata are for July 1983, revised. ii Data are for August 1983. ~I Data are for August 1982, revised. IJ L·ayoffs are the number of UAW members on indefinite layoff as of the end

of each specified period.

Source: Retail sales, production, and days• supply, Ward's Auto Information Bartk; inventory, .Automotive News; and employment, U.S. Department of Labor.

Note.--Because of rounding, figures may not add to the totals shown.

-

2

Table 2.--New passenger automobiles: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources and specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983 11 ll

1982 and 1983 1981 and 1982 Source

Japan--------------: Canada-------------:

,/

West Germany----'---: Sweden-------------: Italy--------------: United Kingdom-----: France-------------: All other------:----:

Total--------"'":

Japan--------------: Canada--------~--~-~

West Germany-------: Sweden-------------: Italy--------------: United Kingdom-----: France-------------: All other-----"-----:

Total---------:

July 1983

160,055·: 56;040 22;985 8,653

302 1,611 2,296

805 252,747

901.153 477 ,078 300,542 85, 7.66 3,660

39 ,077 17,430 . .

71826 1,832,532

Aug. 1983 .. . Sept. 1982-

Aug 1983 Aug, 1982

Quantity (units)

16l.,362 1,828,541 176,618 44,284 766,982 47,732 22,033 214,770 20;411 3,803 98,344 5,816

672 3,369 487 787 15,628 542

1,549 47,807 11685 475 . 6. 513 5

234,965 2~981,954 253,296

Value (1,000 dolli;trs)

932,044 10,121,186 941,$24 347;415 6,573,876 447,247 313,554 3,088,456 260,914

37,343 969,913 54;258 8,476 47,639 5,189

19,248 371,109 15,024 12,849 .. 332,985 12,915

4,018 49,643 .42 1,674,947 21,554,807 1,737,413

. .

Sept. 1981-Aug. 1982

1,778,240 683,201 264,829 87,238 12,963 16,270 46,690 2,095

2,891,526

9,417 ,476 5,537,791 3,130,839

794,868 137,823 366,302 291,849 38,637

19,715,585

ll Data include imports into Puerto Rico; data do not include automobiles assembled in Foreign Trade zones.

£1 Data include TSUSA number 692.1005.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Note.-~Because of rounding, figures may not add to the totals sho\olln,

3

Table 3.--Lightweight automobile trucks 1/ and bodies and cab/chassis for lightweight automobile trucks: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources and · specified periods, 1981, 1982, and 1983 '£/

Source

Japan--------------: Canada-----':_ _______ : All other------:-----:

Total----------:

Japan--------:._-----: Canada-------------: All other----------:

Total----------: .. -·

·July 198~

37,507 16,942

82 54,531

150,~24 138,001

1,574 289,899

1982 and'1983

.A.ug. : sept. 1982.:... 1983 : Aug. 1983

Quantity (units) ~/

42,380 359,260 17,240 . 234,220 .

42 2,683 59,662 596,163

Value (1,000 d:ollars)

172,597 1,457,057 170,460 1,9(11,346

386 40,855 343,443 3,459,258

11 Defined as not over 10,000 pounds gvw.

1981 Aug.·. 1982.

30,597 19,512

18 50,127

129,355 162,559

324 292,238

'?:./ Partially estimated, all data include imports into Puerto Rico.

and 198.2

Sept .. 1981-Aug .. 1982

422 ,Olp '279. 282

1,176 .. '102,545

1,763,521 2,174,915

12,457

~/ Quantity data include complete trucks and cab/chassis, but exclude bodies.·

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the u.s, Department of Commer~e ..

Note.--Because of rounding, figures may not add tQ the totals shown.

'4

Table 4.--New passenger automobiles:. U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal markets and specified periods, 1981, 1982.~ and 1983

Market July 1983·

1982 and 1983

Aug. 1983

Sept.· 1982-Aug. 1983 :

~Quantity (units)

Aug. 1982

1981 and 1982

Sept. 1981-Aug. 1982

·Canada----~~-------: 32,611 30,570 434,649 18,297 351,782 ·Saudi Arabia-----"-: 455 262 9,788 747 13,536

· , 'i<tiW.ait----------~-:-: 106 246 3,345 553 6,475 .. Japan-·-:-------------: 120 .133 : · 2, 266 103 : 3, 284 · .. West Germany-------: 248 151 2, 540 201 2, 416 . Venezuela------..:---: 15 9 .1,226 258 4,145

All other----------: ___ ..:..;72::..;0:;.......:; __ ---'."""5~94-'--''-----=1=1"'-, ...:..4 5:;...:3:;.......:; __ -=1"-''-=2=8 9.;;........;'---'------=2=3-'-', 5::..:9:..-<..9 Total----------: _ __.3__.4_._,--33.._..5----------'3..-l._. ...... 9_6 __ 5-":-___ 4._.6_._5 .... ,=-26.._7___..·_----'2 __ 1~,-4_._48..__ ____ 4_0.._5.._,2 ..... 3....._7

; : .. Value (1,000 dollars) .

·-·----"-------------------------~ .. . cariada-----------,--: 232,533 220,719 3,153,489 128,268 2,472,488

; ~a~di Arabia-------: 5,652 2,964 134,~31 9,981 179,084 KUJJait-------------: 1,698 3,236 43,668 : 6,794 79,624 Japan--------------: 1,675 :: 1,625 29,999 1,236 44,954 West b~rmany------~~ 2,481 } :1.657 25,874 1,921 24,026 Venezuela~---~-----: 114 63 13,429 2,664 l 42,090 All other----------: __ ~7~,_._9_6--6~--· ~6~,6 __ 5 __ 2 ........... :_. ____ 1~3~0_._, __ 38.._7.__.:..___=12.....,_,6~1~2-------2_3~8_,4_6_5

T6t~l~-~~----,-~:. 252,119 236,916 3,531,277 1~3,476 3,080,731

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Note.--Because of rounding, figures may not add to the totals shown.

s

Table 5. --Lightweight automobile trucks 1/ and bodies and ca.b/~hassis for light­weight automqbile trucks; U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, by principal marl;tets and spedfied per.iods, 1981, 1982, and 1983 'f./

1982 and 1983 1981 and 1982 Market

Canada---:-,---------; Saudi Arabia._------: Kuwait---....:.------:---: Venezuela----------: All other----------:

Total----------: . ..

· ;July 1983

5,444 2,307

255 3

762 8 1 771

.. . •· .

Aug. 1983

6,050 1,709

177 2

921 8 1 859

: sept. 1982-: Aug. 1983

Quantity (units) ~/

70,228 17,763

2,050 602 . . .

10 1 555 101.198

Aug. 1982

2,591 901 437 113

la481 51523

Value (1,000. dollars)

. ..•

Sept. 1981-Aug. 1982"

55,191 17,218

3,199 2,183

191778 97.569

Canada-------------:. 41,733 46,303 516,973 16,746 363,099 Saudi Arabia.----"--..,.: 29,753 18,856 225,723 11,116 198,478 Kuwait--~----------: 2,722 2,399 24,050 5,008 32,759 Venezuela.----------: 20 11 · 7, 15 7. 1, 147 21, 732 All other----------:~~·_8_,_0_59~~~-9~,2_6_2~_.,...,~~1_0~9~,9~0_2'"-'-~----1~4~,~1~5~6~~~---1~8~7~,~7~56

Total----------: 82,287 76,831 883,805 48,173 803,824

!I Defined as not over 10,000 pounds gvw. . ·•

£1 Partialiy estimated. ,

. '.

~/ Quantity·data include complete trucks and c~b/chassis, but exclude bodies.

Source: Compileq from official statistics of _the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Note.--Because of roundin~, figures may not add to the totals shown.

6

Table 6.--New passenger automobiles: Sales of domestic and imported passenger automo and sales of imported passenger automobiles as a percent of total U.s. sales, by sp periods, 1982 and 1983

Sales of--

Domestic Imp~rted Total U.S. sales

Period automobiles 1/ automobiles 21 :

1983 1982 . 1983 1982 1983 : .

1()82 1983

. . . January---: 412 ,89_3 368,138 182,853 166,172 595,746 534,310 30.7 February--: 442,479 4_56 ,942 1?6,374 175, 261 628,853 632,203 29.6 Jan.-Feb--: 855,372 825,080 369,227 . 341,433 il,224,599 :1,166,513 30.2 . March-----: 600,303 575,608 220,479 200,741 820,782 77(!,349 26.9 Jan.-~ar--:1,455,675 :1,400,688 589,706 542,174 :2,044,538 :1,942,862 28.8 April-----: 579,991 488,630 183,464 169,833 763,455 668,463 24.0 Jan.-Apr--:2,035,666. :1,899,318 773,170 712,007 :2,808,993 :2,611,325 21·. 5 May-------: 630,044 584,676 206,457 187,091 836,501 771,767 24.7 Jan.-May--:2,665,710 :2,483,994 979,627 899,098 :3,645,494 :3,383,092 26.9 June------: 688,145 451,430 235,282 ~99,093 903,427 650,523 26.0 Jan.-

~une----:3,333,855 :2,935,424 :1,214,909 :1,098,191 :4,548,764 :4,033,615 .. 26.7 July------: 576,864 429,908 214,356 199,364 791,220 629 ,272 27.1 Jan.-

July----:3,910,719 :3,365,332 :1,429,265 :1;297,555 :~,339,984 :4,662,887 26.8 .. August----: 530,960 409,411 209,113 199,341 740,073 608,752 28.3 Jan.-

August--:4,441,679 :3,774,743 :1,638,378' :1,496,896 :6,080,057 :5,271,639 26.9 Sept.-----: 538,307 488,452 166,163 182,599 704,470 67~·,051 23.6 Jan.- ':

Sept.---:4,979,986 :4,263,195 :l,804,541 :1,679,495 :6,784,527 :5,942,690 26.6 :· : . :

ll Domestic automobile sales·include U.S. and Canadian-built automobiles sold in the United States.

~I Does not include automobiles imported from Canada.

Source: Automotive News.

Table 7.--New passenger automobiles: Price indexes, by specified periods, 1982 and 1983 I'

(1967 = 100)

1983 1982 and 1983 Item July August Percent August August. Percent

1983 1983 change 1982 1983 change

Consumer Price Index:

Unadjusted----: 201.4 202.1 +0.3 . 198.7 202.1 +l. 7 Seasonally

adjusted----: 200.8 : . 202.5 +0.8 199.7 202.5 +1.4 Producer Price ..

Index~ . . Unadjusted----: 217.5 218.4 +0.4 216.2 218.4 +1.0 Seasonally.

adjusted----: 217.5 220.4 +1.3 220.6 220.4 -0.1

Source: U.S. Department of Labor.

2 2 2 2 2 21; 24.2: 26.l 30;6''

28.3

l

)i

l.1 II I 1·

I I' I

t

7

Table s.~-New passenger automobiles: Retail pric~ changes in the U.S. market, during September 1983

Source and size category

U,S. producers: General Motors 11------------------: Ford !/------------------------~---: Chrysler !/----~-,------------------:

European Economic Community pro- :: ducers: 2/

Subcompact=------------------------: Compact-------,..------------------·--: Luxury~----------------------------:

Japanese producers: l/ · i Subcompact--~-----------------~----: Compact--------------~-------------: Luxury-----------~--~-----~--------:

Retail price changes in dollars, September 1983

(+ or -)

+232 +254 +191

No change -495 to -565

+170 to -1,668

+200 to .t6SO +430 to +626

No change

. · · Percent . : change

+2.0 +2.3 +1.9

N/A N/A

N/A NIA

!I Nonweighted average price changes 'includ1ng optional equipment for entire 1984 model line (adjusted to reflect equipment additions or deletions).

,ll Many Japanese and European models will not be introduced until late October or November.

Source: Automotive News, September 1983; ·

Table 9.--Hanufacturer11' 11ugge11ted retafa prlce11 of 11elected U.S. and Japane11e automoblle11, April 1981-0ctober 1983 !/

April 1, 1981 October l; 1983 Percent change in

optionally equipped model

Company, model, and option11 ll Base model }/

Option­ally

equipped model 31

Base :aodel '}/

Option­ally

equipped :model 31

:September 1983-: Aprll'l9Bl-Octo6er 1983 October

General Motor11: Chevette, 2 door HB (PB, RWD, TG)-------: Citation, 4 door HB (PB, RWD, TG, AT)---: Cimarron, 4 door (AT)-------------------:!/

Ford: Escort, L, 2 door HB .(PB, RWD, TG)------: Tempo, GL, 4 door (RWD, TG) 5/·----------: LTD Crown Vlctora, 4 door (iWo, TG,

AC, R)--------------------------------: Chry11ler:

Plymouth Turlllmo, 2·door HB (RWD)-------: Reliant, 4 door (RWD, TG, R, AT)--------: Dodge 600, 2 door (RWO, AC) ~1---------:

Toyota: Corolla, Deluxe, 4 door CR)---------~~: C~es•ida, 4 door------------------------:

Ulasan (Datsun): Sentra, Deluxe 2 door 11----------------: Stanza,XE 4 door CAT) 11-----~----------: Maxima, 4 door-------------------------:

Honda: Civic, 1300, ·2· 4oor 11111 (Ill)-------------: Accord, 4 door (Ill, ·Ar)------------------:

Mazda: GLC Custom, 2 door HB CR>--------------:

5,155 5,405 6,404 7,014

12,131 :!I 12,501

5,556 6,421

8,519

5,938 5,980 6,612

5,688 11,599

5,369 6,839

10,379

4,599 7,645

5,495 •

5,857 6,953 _:

10,102

6,188 6,680 7,502

5,793 11,599

5,4,94 7,749

10,379

4,694 7,950

5,650

5,469 ·7,046

12,215

5,629 7,557

il,434

6,494 6,949 8,376

6,498 14,195

6,099 8,669

11,399

5,249 8,549

5,895

5·,119 7,821

12,535

6,626 7,754 9,256

6,758 14,195

6,099 9,019

11,399

5,343 9,042

6,055

!I Suggeated retail prlce11, But Coaat, do not include anJ dealer lncentl've1, below-market -offered by manufacturers or importers.

!I The following code11 apply: PB "' power brakes; llWD • rear window defro1ter; TG • tinted hatchback; AT = automatic tranaalasion; AC • air conditioning; R • radio.

1983

0 +6.9 +1.6 +11.5

0 +0.3

-1.1 +1.6 +7.4 +12.3

+4.4 +24.l

+1.8 +7 •. 1 +3.7 +16.l +4.2 +23.4

+7.8 +16.7 +4.6 +22.4

0 +10.0 0 +16.4

+3.9 +9.8

+1.0 +13.8 +3.5 +13.7

+3.S +7.2

financing or rebates

gla1111; HB •

31-Base models are 2 door or 2 door hatchback and 4 door or 4 door hatchback models. Optlonally.equlpped models are base model• which_ have been equipped with the options llatad in parenthesis.

!I.Cimarron not sold until May 21, 1981. ' SJ Tempo replaced the.Fairmont Futura. ii.Dodge 600 bas repiaced the Diplomat. 11 Sentra replaced the 210; Stanza replaced the 510.

Source: Coaplled froa data supplied bf U.S. aanufacturera •. J~paneae laportera, and Automotive News;

Uote: Soaa 1981, 1982, and 1983 model1 were discontinued; these· ilodels_w•r• replaced bJ coaparable 1984 models. In addition, ao- equipment that wa11 optional on prior modelii ii now included la the ba•• prlce •. ,-k!ng ',prlce compar:i.sons of prior-year 1110dels difficult.

QO