Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
CARS.
INCREASE OUTPUT
Ford and Chevrolet Produce
223,987 Units of Total
of 348,908.
BY EDWARD w. MORRISON.


Special Disratch to The Star.
DETROIT, May eff Spring pro-
duction records. as revealed particularly
by April figures, have shown any sur
prises, it has been in the sharp gains
registered by Ford and Chevrolet.
In turning out 1891 cars and
trucks in April, Ford registered the
largest output since last July. BY in
creasing the April total more than 49,
900 over March, Ford pushed its record
for the year past the $4,000 mark.
The Chevrolet figure of 106,096 re-
vealed the progressive increases in
schedules that the company made dur
ing April. Original plans called for
production of between 10000 and co.
900. In surprising the preliminary
schedules, the company came close to
May production of last year.
Indicates Competition.
The intensive competition that Is
being waged in the low-priced field is
well indicated by these figures. Two
years ego automobile manufacturers
were saying that the trend in motor
cars was toward multi-cylinders. They
began to talk in terms Of eight-cylinder
cars. On every side 1t was being said
that the days of the fours and the
skies were numbered.
Some of those ideas have been we'll
exploded. The motorist Is more in
terested right now in economy of
operation than he Is in telling his
neighbor that he is buying a new eight.
Out of total April production for the
industry of 348, 908, Ford and Chevrolet
alone accounted for 223 ,987 units. Add
to this the production of other cars in
the low-priced field. such as the Ply
month and the Whippet, and some idea
is gained of the trend of automobile
buying.
The new Prosperity Six, which is to
be introduced to the market within the
next few days, is addressed to the
buyer of the low-priced car. Graham
Paige is revealed as the builder of this
new model It will be one of the
vehicles which c. w. Matheson, the
new sales manager, formerly of Gen
eral Motors and Chrysler will use to
push Graham-Paige into the middle
Of the automotive picture.
Fewer New Models.
The Summer Of 1881 will not see, of
course, the usual number Of new models.
The Kew rule of the National Automo-
bile Chamber of Commerce, approving
only of yearly models to be placed on
the market in November and Deem
Der, will be widely observed. The rule
does not mean that there will not be ad-
ditions to the dealer displays here and
there. On the other hand, 1t has been
interpreted to mean that manufacturers
may add to previously established lines,
but not create new ones. A manufac-
turer, for instance, might introduce
landau in his line of SKIES. He cannot,
however, replace his entire line of SKIES
with new models.
Manufacturers feel that this arrange
ment will have done its work If it does
nothing more than eliminate price cuts
in the midst of the Summer buying sea-
son 10 enable dealers 20 clear away old
lines. OF course. it is expected also to
spread some of the sales and manufac-
turing activity of the Summer months
into the Fall end early Winter.
The question that is occupying the at
tention of the statisticians right now Is
whether the industry can turn out AGO.
600 cars in May. Sixty-four thousand
more cars were produced in April than
in March. II that many more were
added 20 the April figure in the current
month the industry would be able TO
boast of an approximate output OF
4l2,0O0. Production for May, 1880, was
444 500. A number Of manufacturers,
| like Studebaker and Auburn, report an
undated demand FOR their cars.
| Auburn had on May l the largest num-
Der of untitled orders in its history.
Copyright, 1879