Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
1,9)6,876 GAIN
|NAUTOMOB|LES
Passenger and Truck Regis
tered Units First Day of
1880, 26, 400, 900.

DETROIT, Mich, January 11.-Com-
bined passenger car and truck registra-
| lions in the United States increased
1,906,876 units or III per cent during
1929, according to B. H. Cram, industry
authority.
This increase was considerably
larger than that which occurred during
either of the two previous years, but
was below the annual gains that took
place for several years prior to 1927
On January /, 1880, there were approx
imately 26400,000 passenger cars and
trucks in operation in the United States
while on the same date year previous
total combined registrations numbered
"a, 493 ,124 units.
It has been estimated that during the
year 1929 United States production of
passenger cars and trucks Appropriated
5,4o0 900 units. During the first 10
months of 1929, the total number OF
motor vehicles exported from the United
States reached a total of about 487 ,00O
units Estimating conServatively, ii
would seem that the total exports fol-
the entire year of 1929 will be at least
$50 900 passenger cars and trucks
Eliminating these $4,000 cars and
trucks from the total production of S.
400 900 units it is found that there were
in the neighborhood of 4,870,000 motor
domestic market.
Two Purchasing Groups.
Purchasers buying these cars avail
able for the domestic market may be
divided into two groups, those not max
ing their original purchase and having
used cars to turn in, while in the other
group are those making their original
purchase and not having any used car
IN Iva AcC1 fV1rr hat d.
in total registrations during 1929 rep
resented those purchasers buying their
first car. it is found that 1906 ,876
motor vehicle purchasers either pur-
chased their first car or became a null
tiple car owner. Subtracting the origi-
nal buyers sales figure just shown from
the total available for the domestic
market, a balance remains of 2,963,124
passenger cars and trucks, this amount
representing the number of cars and
| trucks sold to replace vehicles already
in use. On a percentage basis, original
buyer sales during 1929 represented 1872
per cent OF the number of cars avail
able for the domestic market, while re-
| placement sales consumed sos per cent
of this market
During the past six years Is, 329, 389
| passenger cars and trucks were manu-
featured in the United States. The total
HAONuStAOAl 4OL C1iC pdSt ocNcA years
reached 29, 1863 ,401 units. For some time
past. estimates on the average life OF
motor vehicles have been placed al
seven years. Comparing the total regis
tration figure of 26,4O0,00 units with
the two production figures just shown
It would seem that this generally &C
cepted theory regarding the average life
OF motor vehicles still holds true.
Ford Important Factor.
Ford was undoubtedly very impor-
tant factor in the 1929 replacement
market. Without doubt a very large
portion of the 100000 unit increase ir
replacement sales during 1929, as com.
pared with the previous year. could bt
accounted for because of the bank OF
unified orders for Fords that must have
been accommodating during 1927 and
| 1928. On the other hand, the renewed
activity on the part of Ford surely must
! have had a great deal to do with the
increase in original buyer sales over the
| previous year, a unit increase that in
| spite of the expansion which took place
in total production during 1929 was suf-
ficient to bring about an increase in the
percentage of the total market repre-.
scented by the original buyer sales.
It is a little early to make any tan.
, gible prediction of what to expect Of the
automotive field during 1880. There
seems to be a general acceptance of the
belief that 1890 production will show 9
drop of somewhere between SOC, 900 anc
100000 units below 1929. Seven years
ago yearly production reached the A.
900, 900 unit level. Requirements have
not exceeded 100000 units. In view
of this situation it seems quite likel,
that there will be little If any decrease
during 1880 In replacement sales. Stat.
ing this fact in another way, It woulc
seem quite possible that 1880 origina
buyer sales should drop considerably
below the corresponding figures fol
1929.