Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-20
Orders for 1941 Cars
Exceed |ndustry's
Expectations
New Models Called Big
Advance in Engineering
And Appearance
By r. II. GRANT,


Several basic factors lend sub
stance to a prediction that sales
of l941 cars and trucks will be high
er than the sales Of 1910 products.
Influenced by defense spending
that has yet to attain food-tlde en-
ployment is on the increase and the
trend of national income and pur-
chasing power follows a course that
steadily climbs upgrade. Automo-
bile sales normally follow this curve.
I'D or down as the case may be,
without extreme variation.
Advance orders for l94l models
have exceeded the industry's ex-
pectations. Chief reason for this,
probably, is that the 194l models
/ embody improvements beyond public
anticipations. Both in engineering
and appearance the new cars repre-
sent a distinct advance over the
models of previous years.
The automobile industry's long
standing and progressive policy Of
more value for the dollar" has
been strongly reinforced for the l94l
model year, as visitors 10 tne Ma
tional Automobile Show will dis
cover.
Sales Continue to Climb.
/ September registered the 23d
/ successive month in which auto
mobile retail sales were higher
! than they were during the same
period of the previous year. There
is every indication that this upward
trend will continue throughout the
remainder of this year and l94l.
The sale of 2.749 ,626 automobiles,
commercial cars and trucks during
the first eight months OF 1910 rep
resents an increase of 262 per cent
over the corresponding period last
wear when 2.l78.124 vehicles reached
the market. Retail sales for the
model year ending September 80
totaled approximately 100000 We
hicles, a substantial increase over
the previous II months.
A social factor that will probably
affect future sales is the back-to-
the-country movement, which seems
to be gaining impetus. Latest CEN
sus reports indicate that urban
populations have failed to keep pace
with the growth of the country S
population as a whole. This tend
ency toward the decentralization of
urban populations was undoubtedly
inspired or encouraged by the auto
mobile. An ever-increaslng number
/ - 20 oto nd nf1Pa u-OrkprS
establishing residences in suburban
areas, depending upon their auto
mobiles for transportation to and
from places of employment. In
creased car usage will naturally re-
fleet itself in increased car sales.
Export Business Shrinks.
The gains registered during the
last model year were achieved de-
spite a considerable shrinkage OF
export business. Foreign sales
dropped for the industry as a whole
to 1000 vehicles. representing only
6 per cent of production.
/ Considerable uncertainty exists as
to potentials in many foreign mar
kets and industry forecasts for in
creased volume of sales in the year
ahead are not, as a rule, taking into
account any stable upturn in eX-
ports. Nevertheless the foreign sales
picture has its bright spots and
every effort will be exerted to de-
velop them wherever possible.
The Automobile Show this year
finds the wholesale and retail end
of the motor industry occupying a
larger place than usual in the do
nestle business structure. A total
of Al POI car and truck dealers were
reported as of October l, with a
total of 95,075 retail outlets for auto
mobile products listed in the coun-
try. The same factors of encourage
ment which lead manufacturers
generally to foresee good business
ahead apply likewise to dealers and
distributors in practically every dis
trict in the country. The new model
year begins with prospects for bet
ter-than-usual business and new OPP
portunities all around for rendering
q service.