Evening star., 1925-09-21
AUTOMAKERS SEEK
TO KEEP UP SALES
Would Avoid Winter Slump
This Year-NeW Cheap .
Cars Also Planned.
By j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Spetidl blspdtcn 10 Inc star.
DETROIT, September 21-Automo-
i've engineers today are compromising
the elixir which is counted on to in
ject life into the automobile industry
next January. Manufacturers let it
be known that they are determined
that sales shall not experience the
usual Winter slump if they can pre-
vent it. The industry, therefore, is
preparing for the coming New York
automobile show now and some inter
est1ng developments in design are in
the making.
Engineering departments are care
fully guarding their plans, but it is
sure that the automobile bugs of
America will have bug" cars pre-
sented for their consideration this
Winter. These light cars, with low
gasoline consumption and within a
moderate price range, long have been
\ feature of the motor trade in Eng
land and on the continent But here
tofore they have not been treated
seriously by American manufacturers.
At least two companies will have cars
or this general type to offer
Lower Price Levels Seen.
The price of these models has not
yet been determined, but sales execu-
tives generally concede that they will
probably be within range OF $500
TO $3.50. 1t is the impression, however,
that as soon as volume production of
the new type can be developed, this
price level will be lowered
Another light" car is being de-
veloped by the Paige Detroit Co. in
tended, it is said. to fit in about half
way between the bug" cars and the
so-called 81 1000 line. According to H.
Nj. Jewett, this model will be a high
type car. but priced below the present
Paige and Jewett lines. The company
has done a large amount of expert
mental wark in developing the new
types.
Urge Buying of Two Cars.
Manufacturers here are Shooting"
at the owners of high-priced pleasure
cars as likely prospects for, the
cheaper lines. They believe that the
owner of a high-priced vehicle. with
Its incidental high running expense.
Will be in the market for a second or
auxiliary car able to cover at least
20 miles per gallon of gasoline The
designers of the light types also count
on reaching a large field of owners
who hitherto have bought only in the
low price range
<. According to men in the trade. the
Cadillac engineers are working on
new light models, to be sold as auxil-
larieS to present lines, which will be
priced around $500, and HupmobiIe
is scheduled to bring out light six
to go along with it's eight-cylinder
model
The ChrySler Co., according to deal
ers and others in the trade, will go
to the other extreme. and is slated to
turn out larger car than present
models, with six cylinders and a 120-
inch wheelbase. This is to supple
ment the Chrysler line. which already
includes four and six cylinder models.
Would End Joint Agencies.
These developments are in conform
ity with the now apparent tendency of
manufacturers to furnish dealers a
complete line of motor merchandise.
so that once a purchaser is started on
car he can continue to buy that
make, as he graduates from the less
expensive models to the finer built
types. This is calculated to do away
with joint agencies, in which dealers
handle two or more lines of cars, not
to the entire satisfaction of makers.
Bankers who are in touch with the
automotive situation expect that later
this tendency toward manufacture of
a complete line will result in a number
of mergers, in which companies MAX
ing light cars might consolidate with
others producing larger and more ex-
pensive types, but it is doubtful if
positive steps to such ends will be
taken while the most companies are
so prosperous.
The advance in tire, prices has not
materially affected price conditions in
the automobile manufacturing field as
yet. but it is undoubtedly an argu-
ment in faVor of the smaller and light
er type of conveyance.
Copyright, 1922