Evening star., 1923-12-10
HUGE 1924 AUTO
! OUTPUT CERTAIN
Rush of Raw Material Orders
Is Amazing-Prices Are
IA ProbIematicaI.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star

epecial Dispatch to The Star. =.
NEW YORK, December 10.-The
amount of steel, copper and other raw
materials ordered from producers by
automobile manufacturers in the last
ten days has been amazing. There
seems to be unanimity Of opinion
among manufacturers that 1924 is
gong to be year OF tremendous au-
tomobile production. What effect the
prices of these raw materials will
nave nave on motor car prices is being
vigorously debated.
Supp iers of automobile parts as
Sert prices for their products have
: been forced below fair. profit margins
and that prices must be advanced or
many OF them must 60 out of busi-
ness. Some OF the manufacturers of
cars subscribe to the View that the
trend OF car prices must be upward.
Financlers. on the other hand. who
have been actively identified with the
securing of capital for financing the
industry, declare that the ambitious
plans of the stronger makers will re-
suit in terrific competition and con-
sequent price cuts when the battle
wakes hot.
Ford Output An Index.
There can be little doubt as to the
heat of the fray. The Ford Motor
Company may not reach it's projected
10000 car day production mark be-
fore next May or June. But its out
put during the first quarter OF 1924 is
sure to exceed materially that of the
corresponding period of last year. If
the present output of 1000 cars a day
is continued during the first quarter.
production Of 100000 cars and trucks
will be completed. The daily output
for he first three months Of 1922 was
1000. and the total for the quarter.
SS6,000.
Other leading companies are equal
ly ambitious in their programs. The
Hudson Essex output for 1924 is
planned to reach 100000 cars. The
Studebaker Corporation. expects to
turn out 10000 and Dodge. Bros.
Chevrolet goal has been fixed at sOO,-
600 against 100000 cars this year,
while the Overland factories will be
called on to make 250.000 cars as
compared with 205.o00 in the current
year.
Investors Study Outlook.
The: so-called winter sales cam
paign of the Ford Company was so
successful, last year that it will be
followed even more strenuously this
winter. In the six months from octo-
to sell 100000 vehicles, or 25O, 900
more than were disposed of in the
corresponding period year ago. :.
Investors who have made a spe-
scrutiniZing offerings with more care
than ever. Each year since the war
IL has been preoIc. ed Jnat ano.ner
season would see the elimination of
half the manufacturers. Examination
of records showing the accomplish
ments of the particular companies
doing the lions share of the business
in 1928 shows little change from a
year ago. however. In 1922, the lead
ing thirteen of the 124 active makers
sold SO per cent of the cars. Figures
now available make IT appear that
this year the first thirteen producers
will have sold "a per cent of the
motor vehicles purchased. The list Of
active producers, however, has drop
ped from 124 to 100.
The preliminary figures for the
year show that Ford is holding his
own, with so per cent of the num-
Der disposed of. He has maintained
this approximate ratio in every year
of the last decade except in 1921,
when his proportion rose to Sc per
cent.
The trade, however, fully expects
to see further mortality among the
producers. FinancieFs say 1t is grow
ing harder each year to raise capital
for new motor, manufacturing enter
prises, But the annual crop of in
vestors, who think the field is still
fertile for new makers Is still amaz-
tngly large.