Evening star., 1934-02-04
AUTO TRADE GUNS
TRAINED ON WEST
Magnates Predict Further
Sale Gains in Industry
for 1894.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CHICAGO. February 3-Moving It's
trade promotion artillery from De-
troit to Chicago this week. the auto
mobile industry has trained its big
guns on the Middle West. with the
national automobile show here as its
base Of operations.
The Chicago show added materially
to the activities that have been con-
tinuous since the first week of the
new year, when the New York show
inaugurated the business of building
and selling of motor cars for 1884.
What the shows and the new model
offerings have done to stimulate trade
has been told by several Of the mag
mates who gave out statements dur
ing the Chicago week.
G. NJ. January Production.
William S. Knudsen. executive vice
president of General Motors Corpo-
ration, who is now in charge of all
G.. M. car and body building oper-
ations in the United States and
Canada. said the corporations total
production for January was about
$4,000 units.
We expect to go to 100000 in
February he said. we will pro-
duce approximately 10000 units in
March. We have our plans all laid
and Will proceed with this program
1T appears reasonable" Mr.. Knud-
sen added, 'in view of the buying in
tcrest Of the public evinced at the
Chicago and New York automobile
shows and those held elsewhere in
the country to this date to expect that
the entire automotive industry will
produce around 2,75O,0OO cars in
1884"
What Mr.. Knudsen's prediction will
mean for this year may be shown by
comparison with the production to-
tai OF 1888 as estimated by the Ma
tlonal Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce. 1t was 2O48.OOO passenger
car and truck units and was 43 per
cent ahead of 1882.
Employment in the factories of
General Motors at present is giving
work to about $4,000 persons as
compared with 125,0O0 a year ago.
Large Chrysler Orders.
For the Chrysler Corporation. Wal
ter P. Chrysler has said that the four
divisions-Plymouth. Dodge. De Soto
and Chrysler-have received orders
for more than 10000 new cars. which
Is four times the number In hand in
January of last year. The cash value
is estimated at s50,000.OO Accord
ing to Mr.. Chrysler. the volume is
many thousands more than the entire
shipments OF the first three months
Of 1888.
The Ford February schedule calls
Tor 10000 units. which is a step-up
from $1,000 produced during January.
The Chevrolet January output is ex-
pected to be about $4,000. February
Is certain to show added volume, which
Is expected to make a hole in a bank
OF orders, at least accounts exceeding
100, 1000, with the Chicago show orders
not counted in.
Plymouth is building at the rate of
1900 cars a day, compared with $50
oally year ago. A further step-up
Is planned to make headway against q
bank OF close to $4,000 orders, on hand
from dealers. This compares with
1000 on hand at the end Of January.
1888
From Buick. Harlow H. Curtice, pres
ident. reports an increase in the pro-
ductlon schedules to 10000 units from
the January output, which was 9,70O.
This puts Buick on basis of 500 cars
day. with 1880 men at work in the
factory. Mr.. Curtice says that sales
at retail during the show periods have
doubled those Of last year. notably in
Chicago and Boston, which is an in.
dication that people are buying more
higher-priced cars than they did in
1888.
Dodge Orders Up.
Orders received for Dodge Bros cars
have passed 1900. according to off,
cial word. and are five times the num-
Der on file as of the same 1893 period.
According to H. j. Klingler. presi-
dent of the Pontiac Motor Co.. this
makers February production will be
double that of January and in March
Is to be stepped up so per cent more
The Chrysler and De Soto new style
"airflow" cars fent into production
this week, after unavoidable delays,
and 1t is stated that advance orders
for both makes are sufficient to place
all units built to the end of April.
Addressing a meeting here, Charles
D. Hastings. president of Hupp, said
his organization expected 1884 to be
the best year since 1928 and that
scientific streamlining seems to have
grabbed" the public.
Copyright. 1884. BY the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)
Indiana He1n Sava Traas