Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-30
AUTO TRADE PLANS
BRISK SALE DRIVE
New Models viii Be Pushed
in Effort to Quicken
Demand.
BY DAVID !. wrLKrE.

DETROIT. october 30,--The auto
mobile industry which for several
months has been humping along over
the rough roads Of sharply restricted
production Is getting ready 10 try q
little speed momentum and hoping that
an expansion Of consumer demand viii
hasten IL along on It's Journey into 1882
In clearing IT. path the industry has
held production down well below de-
Ynand during the period following the
Midsummer shutduwns. with the re-
suit that the merchandising division
has had opportunity 10 clear out cur
rent stocks IN anticipation oil new
models. The first Of the new models, by
one OF the leading medium price pro-
Queer. already is in production and
has been given private showing TO
newspaper men. 1t probably VIII DC
formally presented 10 the public within
the next two weeks
Sales Campaign Planned.
Others in the same price bracket
viii follow and all the manufacturers
who withheld their new models during
the Summer months viii have them in
dealers hands by the time the National
Automobile Show opens in New York
in January. More than ordinary activ-
ity Is looked for in the industry during
November and December. With the
introduction CT the new models. Wig
orous merchandising campaign Is being
planned
The presentation OF new models dur
ing the Winter months is being tried
this year for the first time. Its effect
upon employment in the factories, upon
the new car business OF retail organ
izations and upon the motor conscious
~ he
studied by various committees of the
National Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce which sponsored the plan.
whether the policy will be continued
will depend upon the results OF this
analysis.
There has been some inclination to
blame the lack of new models for the
falling of Of retail business during the
late Summer months. On the other
hand, supporters of the policy hold
that aside from insuring employment
during the Winter months when 1t is
most needed the presentation OF new
types nearer the first of the year with
assurances there will be no changes in
the midst OF the good driving weather
season will tend TO encourage earlier
buying by motorists who might other
wise defer the purchases until Midsum-
mer
This is but one phase of the motor
car industry's effort to get back into
normal speed operation. Another part
of it will be a most vigorous campaign
/, on the part of the dealer organizations
for new business The great advances
in engineering that the industry has
made during recent years will be
coupled with the fact that prices have
been held down to an almost irreduc-
ible minimum in the campaign the
retail division of the industry will make
for new business with the advent of
the newest types soon to be introduced.
Ford Plans Are Secret.
The plans of the Ford Motor Co. con-
tinue to arouse no little interest and
considerable speculation in automotive
circles. SO far as official comment or
disclosure is concerned, however, not a
word has been given out concerning the
long-rumored improvements on the
Model A. Neither has there been any
word concerning the development of an
eight-cyiinder model which gossip had
attributed to the Ford Co.
ASeemingly still well ahead of retail
demand, the production division of the
Ford Co. has shown considerable
variation from week to week Men
have been called back for short periods
to catch up with an accumulation of
orders. and while some departments
have been working five days a week,
Others have been following three-6ay
schedule. Among the various rumors
circulating in automotive circles is one
that the Ford Co. will step up produc-
ton sharply around December l.
Whether this can be coupled with the
turning 10 production of a new or i'm
proved Model A, or other changes, re-
mains matter of conjecture.
There appears to be a general feel
Av.ar hNrxs I1nN -
which the Ford laboratories have been
working on for some time, soon will
make their appearance.
Always ready to consider any prof.
ect that might stimulate export busi-
ness of the industry, leading manu-
facturerS gave careful thought to the
proposal of Andre Citrosn, French no.
tor car builder. for an export cartel of
the worlds leading automobile makers
M. Citroen outlined his plan to many
Of the leading American producers dur
ing his visit here last week. Although
the French manufacturer said he had
found many American manufacturers
well disposed toward his plan, he APP
parently reached no definite agreement
with them for combined action to put
II into effect
NJ. Citroen's proposal calls for the
development of the automobile market
in l07 countries which have no motor
lnouStrY or their own and in which
use of the motor car has been steadily
falling OF. One phase of the plan that
interested the induStry'S leaders here
particularly was the proposal that in
the effort to make the people of the
automotively backward countries motor.
minded, million or more used cars
be rounded up in the United States
and be presented to the countries con-
cerned as an outright gift.
Scrapping Cars.
American motor car makers have
found considerable comfort i'm the
statement by one authority that more
cars viii be strapped this year thar
the industry will produce. AT the same
time any project that v1Duld take al
additional million or more OF tlloSC
that will not be sent TO the Junk pill,
from circulation in the United State.
would further brighten prospects fo
an upturn in new car sales in thI
domestic field,
The American motor car induStrl
has been trying for years 10 run IL
export business above the / 900 600
unit mark. but the nearest 1t Eas com,
to that figure was in 1929 when for
eien sales of American made vehicle
totaled 997lll cars Last year tn
total dropped OF 20 $50 9o7 units. AND
with increased tariff restrictions raiset
this year, indications are the oversee
sales of American made motor car