Evening star., 1924-06-13
AUTO MAKERS PLAN
CAUTION IN OUTPUT
Already Consider Preventing
0verproduction of Machines
in Next Years Campaign.
PRESENT SALES ARE HEAVY
Several Concerns Report New Rec
ords-Bigger Ford Plant.
PRESENT SALES ARE HEAVY
BY J. G. ROYLE.

special Dispatch TO The Star
NEW YORK, June 13.-The auto
mobile manufacturers who began this
year leaning forward in their anxiety
to have enough cars probably will be-
gin 1925 leaning back in an effort to
avoid having surplus machines on
their hands. 1t is generally agreed
that the automobile companies are
not likely to enter another winter
manufacturing campaign similar to
that OF the period just passed.
The theory that sales were lost in
large numbers in past years owing
to inability to deliver cars in April,
May and June was pretty thoroughly
punctured by experiences this spring.
Sales analysists now admit that the
public is likely to rush in and de-
mand cars when they are not plentl-
ful, but will hold back orders when
pie stocks on hand. Next spring there
Is going to be careful guard against
overproduction, and as result there
may be another so-called shortage.
Production at Low Level.
While the production end of the au-
tomobile business in May and so far
this month fell to what will probably
sales of cars at retail in many sec
tions during the last six weeks have
shown a decided increase over April.
The discrepancy between production
and sales represents the reduction In
stocks of cars manufactured earlier in
the year and means gradual return
to normal.
Had retail sales declined along
with production, there might have
been something for the automobile
m
stand, nearly all the more prominent
companies are now near normal as
between the number of cars on hand
and in possession of dealers. Finan-
ciers closely allied with the Industry
feel that this indicates production
shortly will increase to care for late
summer and fall demand and for the
making of new models.
Records Sales in Michigan.
Total retail sales in Wayne County.
Mich, Of which Detroit is the CEN
ter. amounted to S,S07 in May.
May, 1923, which was the previous
high record month in that locality.
For the five months up to June ]. de-
liveries in Wayne County were 34,822
as against 27.242 for the correspond
ing period of 1923. This county is
prospective car buyer in il is in thor
ough touch with the trend of auto
mobile output and prices.
Dodge Brothers retail deliveries in
May totaled 23,2s7. as compared with
20,570 year ago. This was the
largest May business in the history
of the company and stocks are lower
than at any time since volume pro-
duction was started. May retail de-
liveries of the Paige Detroit Motor
Car Company amounted TO 5.2S4 Paige
and Jewett cars. as compared with
4.s00 in May. 1928 The total sales
of the company for FIVE months
amounted to 1850. as against 1896
for the corresponding period of last
year.
The Ford Company has let the con-
tract for a new Assem- bling unit at
Dallas, which will bring the plant
there to 10000 cars and trucks a
year. The Ford concern has reserve
timber supplies at L'Anse, Mich.
amounting to $4,000 900 feet, of which
$4,000, 600 feet are already cut. The
Ford mill is saving 100000 feet
daily. A place has been made for
Edsel Ford on the board of the Ma
tional Bank of Commerce of Detroit
by increasing the number of di-
rectors to nineteen.