Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
AUTO TRADE SEES
YEAR OF RECOVERY
Industry, Encouraged by
Pickup in Sales, Plans
Increased Output.
BY DAVID j. WILKIE,
Associated Press stan Writer.

DETROIT, February 13.-The signs
of the times" that tell the makers of
motor cars of better days ahead, con-
tinue to accumulate as the automobile
industry gets well under way in what
its leaders declare is to be its recovery
year"
Throughout the industry there is
voiced an unqualified faith in the early
return to normal conditions. Pointing
out that January production showed
an increase over December and that
further increase will be noted in
February, automotive executives say
the industry already has begun to
shape its course along normal lines
lightest output in December, followed
by gradual upturn reaching its peak
in March, April and May.
Years Output.
That these Spring months will be
no exception to the rule this year is
the confident expectation of all lead
erS of the motor car industry. Be-
cause they can visualize nothing but
a steady increase in production during
the coming months, these executives
units for February, with the 100000
mark being reached and passed during
the subsequent five or six months.
None of the leaders of the industry
will venture q guess as to what the
high production point Of the year will
be. They are agreed, however, that a
total output for the year of between
100000 and 100000 units is the OBJ
jective. II the latter figure can be
reached it will represent an increase
of almost 10000 900 units over last year
and approximately equal the produc-
ton for 1928 or 1926 the two best
years in the industry's history, aside
from the huge output of 1929.
The signs that seem to justify the
optimism Of manufacturers and sales
executives are more numerous now than
they have been for many months. but
the one element that stands out above
is the definite return of what the. trade
Is disposed to call the buying mood.
It was an exactly opposite mood that
the industry had to contend with
through 1880. Everywhere there ap-
peared the inclination to get another
season out of the old car" This dis
position, however. was not without Its
advantages to the industry. Besides
calling for a sharper scaling down OF
placement business the industry will be
called upon to handle during the cur
rent year.
In some quarters there is a DISPOSE
ton to regard the revival Of the buy
ing mood" as the advent OF the one
factor heretofore lacking to COM
pletely justified optimistic outlook
Coupled with the near approach OF the
buying season" good driving weather
and the definite assurance given oy
most manufacturers that there VIII be
no Midsummer model changes, the pic
ture presented by the automobile IN
dustry as a whole seems at the moment
to be a thoroughly encouraging one.
Discount to Dealers.
The Ford Motor Co. is expected soon
to have all production departments on
an even basis, a condition regarded as
necessary before any marked increase IN
output in that companys plants. since
last Fall some departments nave peen
working on a three-dayS basis, Whlle
others have been operating f1ve days q
week. The five-day units were those
behind N production, as explained py
spokesman for the company.
The ree-day-a-week divisions were
being held back to permit the other oe-
partments to catch up.
Action of the Ford Co. in increasing
its discount to dealers to nat ~ per
cent is considered in trade circles as q
competitive move designed to stimulate
dealer activity in the smaller territory
as we'll as in the larger fields allotted
Ford dealers. The former discount was
graduated from 1712 to 81 per cent, the
allowance being determined on the basis
of the number Of cars sold in q given
period.