The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-18
PRODUCTION Of
AUTO TRUCKS
INCREASES
Truck Builders Keeping Pace
With Record-Rreaking Out
put Of Passenger Cars.
By MARSHALL B. WALKER,
COsinoDOlitan News Service.


DETROIT, Mich, March H.
While the great automobile manu-.
facturers Of the country are closing
March with the greatest first quar-.
ter's production in history, it is in
teresting to learn that truck builders
have been more than keeping pace
with record-breaking output, sales
and profits, and that 1924 will be
the greatest truck year in history.
unless present indications fail.
Reasons For Increase.
Improved business conditions,
graeter use of motor trucks in all
lines Of industry and the elimination
Of discarded war equipment by the
Government from competition, are
three reasons why truck sales are
showing an increase. Unlike the
passenger vehicle companies, which
in spite Of record output in 1923
showed decreased profits per dollar
of sales due to severe competition.
many Of the truck companies con-
tinued to hold the ratio of profits
to sales to a high level. This has
led some observers to predict a
comparatively better year for truck
manufacturers than for automobile
makers.
During the first two months of
1924, sales Of General Motors trucks
have exceeded all previous records
for corresponding period. and to-
day the company has more untitled
orders on hand than ever before at
this time of the year. General
Motors sales in January and Feb
Fuary were 81 per cent greater
than during the same months Of
any other year.
REQ Speed Wagon, which is a
light truck. reports the demand is
greater this year than last. Feb.
ruary deliveries were greater than
January and March, so far, is
doubling last month.
Mack Truck profits showed a
larger percentage Of profit in 1928
than any preceding year and ca
pacity operations now make the
prospects exceedingly bright.
Ford Production.
For Ford. both his truck and
passenger car production now are
greatest in history. Only a few
days ago he broke all previous high
marks by turning out in his United
States plants a total of 1856 cars
and trucks in a single day.
Demand for cars and trucks is
Increasing, as spring draws nearer
Officially. Production. which has
been speeding up since the first Of
the year and has resulted in an
output nearly one-third greater than
for any previous first quarter, has
not yet reached its maximum for
the season, as those plants which
are operating at capacity are bend
ing every effort to build more cars
by greater efficiency methods or
factory expansion.
No greater expansion is being
made in the industry at present
than is being planned and carried
out by Willys-O verland, which last
week reduced prices in the face of
increases by half a dozen other
companies Buildings are going up
which will enable the company to
put out at least 100000 more cars
this year than in 1923. Sales so
far this year have been greater
than production, and expansion is
necessary. President John N. WHY'S
is reported to be negotiating with
one or more Detroit industries
which may be taken to Toledo, Ohio,
as part of plans for development
Of 900 acres purchased there a week
ago. These industries are said to
be supplying materials for WHY'S
knight and WHY'S Overland.