US carmakers downshift on Trump economic plan

DETROIT: Steadily rising US auto sales helped fuel the economic recovery, but sales have shifted into lower gear even as President Donald Trump counts on carmakers to provide a lift to his economic plans.

And after adding thousands of jobs since the financial crisis to meet rising demand for new vehicles, US carmakers also have begun to idle workers for months at a time.

Trump has touted the auto sector -- which he previously lambasted for moving production to Mexico -- as proof of his program's success.

"We're going to have expansion," Trump told reporters this week.

"We already do. You look at what's happening with Ford and with General Motors in Michigan and Ohio. You look at the tremendous number of jobs that are being announced in so many different fields. That's what I'm proud of, and that's what we want to focus our energy on."

But the data is gloomier.

Following seven years of steady growth that led to sales records in 2015 and 2016, deliveries of new vehicles in the US dropped 4.7 percent in April in one of the steepest declines since the 2008-2009 recession, AutoData reported.

Analysts at IHS Automotive have cut their forecast for US sales, which are expected to fall for the first time since the financial crisis.

"Auto demand remains at muted levels," IHS analyst Chris Hopson said.

- Auto workers idled -

Earlier this year, in response to prodding and threats from Trump over their overseas operations, Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler announced plans to add jobs at their US facilities.

Ford even canceled construction of a plant in Mexico, although it did so largely due to falling demand for passenger cars.

GM announced plans to add jobs in Michigan even as it moving ahead with cuts to production. But so far this yaer, GM has idled 3,000 workers at three plants in Michigan and another in Tennessee.

Ford scrapped 130 workers at the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon, Ohio, and now plans to cut another 1,400 salaried jobs.

And Fiat Chrysler Automobiles laid off hundreds of workers in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Toledo, Ohio and Belvidere, Illinois.

Some FCA workers have been called back in Belvidere, but the company has not set a timetable for recalling the 6,000 workers idled in Sterling Heights and Toledo.

- Car sales peaked -

AutoData's reports show US sales for GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, the heart of the American car industry, have experienced the biggest drops so far this year. Ford's sale are down 5.1 percent, GM's have dropped 1.1.

And Toyota, Honda and Nissan, all of which have large US production, also reported drops in sales in April.

"Car sales have peaked," said Danielle DiMartino Booth, founder of Money Strong LLC, an economic consulting firm.

Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds.com, said the end of the low interest rates that helped drive car sales is a key factor.

Car loans "are becoming less enticing for consumers, which inevitably creates further drag on new vehicle sales," she said.

While wrestling with production cuts, GM and Ford also are facing grumbling from shareholders.

Citing GM's faltering stock price, Greenlight Capital, a New York based hedge fund, has put up an alternative slate of directors that will be voted on at next month's shareholders meeting.

"You say that your main priority is to provide long-term shareholder value," one shareholder said during Ford's annual shareholders meeting.

"Losing 40 percent of the value since Mark (Fields) took over as CEO doesn't seem to be upholding that pledge."

In response, William Clay Ford Jr., Ford's executive chairman and the great grandson of the company's founder, said Wall Street has historically undervalued automakers, even when they are earning substantial profits.