Evening star., 1933-09-15
OPTIMISM SWEEPS
AUTOMOBILE TRADE
September Factory Output
Estimated at 10000 to
100000 Units.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Mich, September 15.-1f
= there Is anything in the outlook for
the automobile industry that is in any
respect adverse, the producers and dis
tributors are keeping it very much
under cover.
Typical of the optimism and-in
many cases-actual enthusiasm pre-
vailing among sales directors Is the
of one producer in the low price field
that "the situation gets better the
longer we CO. toward the end Of 1888.
In a general way this statement re-
fleets the announced opinions of most
sales directors, who point out that for
comparative purposes the statistics OF
1881, and in some instances even 1880
are being used instead Of those Of the
bottom year" Of 1882. Conceding that
the tapering of in retail demand which
should have made its appearance more
than a month ago is beginning to be
felt in the industry, these executives
say that contrary to the belief ex-
pressed earlier in the Summer the fall
ing of has been Of the most moderate
proportions
Sales Heads Point Out.
The sharp contraction OF buying
interest which might ordinarily be
expected in the clean up period be-
tween the end of the peak driving
season and the introduction of new
models has been entirely lacking. sales
heads point out.
Authoritative estimates of September
factory output, based on current trends
range between 10000 and 100000
units. A year ago the September
output totaled approximately 86,50O
passenger cars and trucks.
The induStry'S executives find the
figures encouraging because they repre-
sent. roughly. an appraisal of the poten-
tial consumer demand for the current
month. and at time when it is more
or less common knowledge that new
models are but few weeks away.
Already the first of the new models
have been announced with new series
by one Of the producers in the higher
prize bracket. Two other producers will
announce 1884 models shortly and an
almost steady procession Of new types
will follow between now and the end
OF the year
Sustained Consumer Interest.
Under ordinary circumstances the
sustained consumer interest in the
period Immediately preceding the pres
entation of new models would be
somewhat unusual Producers and dis
tributors explain, however. that general
impression appears to have gone forth
that with the presentation Of new mod
els during the next few months, a new
price range for most cars also Will be
esta blished. An increase in price has
been declared by several authorities to
be inevitable under the changed en-
ployment conditions and material costs
which will prevail in the industry when
the majority Of factories are engaged
In new model production.
There have been no definite an
nouncements by the industrys leaders
that a specific increase will be made IN
the price of the new cars. But nowhere
along the line from raw material sup
pliers to retail distributors has there
been any assurance that substantial
increases can be avoided.
If any new models are brought out
without price increases. it appears Ger
tain the listings will be accompanied by
a statement that they are subject to
change on short notice.
Throughout the period in which the
motor car industry was pulling itself
through the most doleful period In It's
history, production costs have been
Whitfield down to the absolute minimum.
Thus, with the fixing Of minimum
wages and the increased employment
proposed under the national industrial
recovery program, automobile execu-
tives are known to feel that along With
the readjustment Of pay rolls and rosters
there must come also at least a mod
crate increase in the cost Of the finished
product to the consumer.