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First booty course of the CNNMoney’s Abigail Heffernan and Peter Valdes Dapena discuss Toyotas into the large truck market and review the new Toyota tundra. Play video

New York (CNNMoney.com) — motor tendency magazine called the GroessengleichToyota tundra its truck of the year for on Tuesday of other competitors 2008 for the price were the Chevrolet Silverado hp, the GMC Sierra hp and the Ford F-250, -350 and -450, supertask trucks. since the trucks different abilities has, which they were, which against a sentence straight became to estimate of specific criteria more rather, that in one competition against one different, which is the magazine said. the trucks were than, that for “superiority,” measure of general a outstanding achievement in the materials was counted and led and technical skill, “value,” a measure of what the Trucks of offers compared to others out, die for the price are present, and “meaning w_the award were the Chevrolet Silverado hp, the GMC Sierra hp and the Ford F-250, -350 and -450 super Duty trucks. since the trucks have different capabilities, they were rated against A set of specific criteria more rather than in A straight competition against one more another, the magazines said. the trucks were scored for” superiority, “A measure of general excellence in material, engineering and workmanship,” VALUE, “A measure of what the truck offers compared to others available for the price, and” significance, “a measure of, how the Carrier the market in which it changes, competes the general engines, and Ford, which trucks in the the competition all heavyaufgabe photographs sketched carry to large loads and of the dragging rope are, the Toyota tundra a “half ton” of admission of the kind is that frequently used for personal transport as well is, as for work. the trucks were, which is examined an more former Ford, for soil in the Arizona and on area roads examines. Test enclosed trailer dragging and driving achievement on rough and unpaved roads the tundra stood, the magazine out said, for its refined touching ride and, excellent new interior Qualitaetsand silence combined with impressive truck ability Toyota (TM) imported the, larger tundra this year than direct competitor to market prominent trucks from the GR. (GR., fortune 500) and Ford (F, fortune 500). “the hat new product introduction of the, new tundra does not without some Schluckaufe,” the magazine noted. the trucks was, several recalls confronted, motor tendency three prices for carriers gives, does not that the all new or is, which are again sketched to year the magazine substantially for year price went to the again sketched Cadillac CTS while the SUV of the year price went to the Mazda CX-9. the of the model year this car.

January 4, 2008

THROUGH SARAH A. WEBSTER

FREE PRESS BUSINESS AUTHORS

ford motor CO, in the center of restructuring, fell to NR. 3 into United States auto sales the last year, there Toyota Motor Corp. its 12. straight year record United States of sales communicated and up to second place behind General engine Corp moved.

Although Ford held on for the admission guidance with its f of Series — the good-selling carrier vehicle identification plate nation for 26 years and the good-selling truck for 31 years — die mark Ford companys no is more longer, forms good-sold for that nation.

Under marks GR. POSSESSING took Chevrolet that title in one squeezed together market by a housing crisis and a recession fear.

Entirely, was GR. Sales down 6% in 2007. however GR. remains NR. 1 of America the automaker, with United States sales year last of 3,8 million. Although Toyota behind, is far with 2,6 million, GR. does not take everything for granted.

” We think more over the course of many years, we’re, that can be done, it duking out for guidance,” Mark LaNeve, GR. North America vice president for sales, service and marketing, said Thursday during conference call with journalists. “in such a way we’ve our eye received whole time on Toyota that certainly.”

Kw_two beginning and beginning for global sales are guidance, but those results are not yet the existing.

Chrysler LLC communicated meanwhile annual sales an acceptance of 3.1%.

The fourth place automakers into United States, sold Auburn hill-created more Chrysler 2,08 million cars and trucks last year. That means die Chevrolet mark, with sales of 2,25 million, and Ford, with sales of 2,09 million, die entire list of more Chrysler, of Dodge and from jeep products sold in 2007 more.

In December although, more Chrysler a large play on formed to hold to one of its important guidance positions. The automaker gave gain a 51,3% Dodge in the great camper sales, enough to beat honda odyssey for NR. 1 position in minivan the segment admits.

Honda, which communicated a 2,8% sales gain in 2007, led minivan the segment at the at the end of November.

Entirely, United States consumers bought 16,1 million cars and trucks in 2007, down 2,5% from the previous year. This marks 2007 9.-best sales the year in the history, but pretty far of the durable level 17-million, to which automakers had grown, which was accustomed in the last years.

Despite the increasing interests over fuel economics, car sales only 2,6% fell, and truck sales fell 2.3%.

George Pipas, analysts Verkaeufe top the Fords, noted that die reduction of sales was largely expected companys and planned at the Kw_beginning year Ford intentionally sales to fleet market to cut you, in which carriers in the main part are sold at the discount. It said die acceptance war 18%.

Einzelverkaeufe of the Pipas said Fords into the showroom fell 10%. It confirmed that those sales on lowas-desired levels were during the last two months of the yearly.

Jim Farley, group of the Fords’ vice president for marketing and communications, said Ford accelerates its product plan and a “modest and honest” marketing approximation the following year will present, although he sank, to specify more.

“the We’re, that can be done, stick to our shoots,” it said.

As automakers, die on the year reflected were market, several noted this competition in the size equal sizes of, one of the most profitable ranges, war particularly fierce. That is partly, because sales bend admission to refer with housing starts one on the other die miserably suffered.

GR. rolled out new versions Chevrolet to Silverado and GMC the Sierra, and Toyota die other automaker came into a discounting battle on trucks forced to market with in high of degrees competing a tundra and to one level the incentives.

In the end although, Toyota still up something short its goal 200,000 for die tundra came, with 196.555 sales.

“on the tundra front side, as rest the industry, believed size equal admission the segment the economic Headwinds and saw its fair portion of challenges in 2007,” said Bob Carter, Toyota division group president and general vice-managers.

Toyota said growth in the hybrid carriers this year could slow down, after it had varied almost exclusively in 2007 on basis from a model. Sales of the Prius, half-breed by far good-sell, increased 69,4% in 2007 too Toyota 181.221. expected to sell over 275.000 half-breeds the 2008, over the same as 2007.

In conference call a Thursday, ratcheted Toyota officials down projections for United States sales growth to 1% to 2% for 2008., die Toyota earlier projected 3% growth had.

Kw_said he was pleased to LaNeve with small achievement GR. with photographs, the die automaker to pick up the portion of one down market permitted.

Despite all new trucks and incentives were main leaders to Ford company held at to its truck guidance, with 690.589 sales proudly. That is far from sales the 900,000 plus Ford cry, which is noted 2004 and 2005, but it liess hold for the f of Series truck a body, if contraction, lead more over the Silverado and its 618,257 sales.

Ford plans to discharge a new 2009 late this F150 year — hopes over time, which die housing crisis leave could, it.

AUTO SALES INDICATING PANEL: 2007 counts GR. 6% Ford 11,8% more Chrysler 3,1% Toyota 3,1% Honda 2,8% Nissan &bull 4,8% together; Accomplish indicating panel