Market share shrinks on LI for Japanese carmakers

Japanese carmakers suffered a rare loss of market share on Long Island in September - 7.3 percentage points - as European and Korean automakers gained and the Detroit Three came roaring back from a weak 2009.

New registration figures from the Michigan-based auto data firm R.L. Polk & Co. showed General Motors and Chrysler Group Llc each gained 1 percent of market share, while Ford gained 1.3 percent. Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia also scored gains in market share.

In the end, Asian carmakers had a smaller but still-commanding share of about 60 percent of the Island's new-vehicle market while the Detroit automakers had about 22 percent and European carmakers held a slightly improved 17 percent share.

The Honda brand had the largest share - almost 14 percent as registrations of the Island's best-selling nameplate rose by 4 percent, to 2,328. But the share was down seven-tenths of a percent from a year earlier because the registrations increase trailed the market.

Toyota, the second-most-popular brand on Long Island, scored a small increase - less than 1 percent, to 2,217 vehicles, so that its market share fell by 1.8 points, to 13.3 percent.

The Polk numbers also showed the Island's overall new-vehicle market improved by 14.2 percent in September from a year earlier, to 16,591 new vehicles. That was also an improvement over September 2008, but the total still was below that of the pre-recession 17,163 vehicles registered in September 2007, according to the Polk numbers.

"It should be more but it's coming around," said Dick Mullen Jr., whose family sells Jeeps, Dodges and Chrysler at Mullen Motors in Southold.

Chevrolet registrations rose 25.5 percent in September from a year earlier, to 742 vehicles. Mark Calisi, owner of Eagle Chevrolet in Riverhead, says the midsize Malibu and the Silverado pickup are leading.

Lexus registrations fell by almost 20 percent from September 2009 to 516 vehicles this past September. Nissan registrations fell 13 percent to 1,932 vehicles.Ford dealers moved 34 percent more vehicles in September than a year earlier, or 985. At Riverhead Ford Lincoln Mercury, co-owner Ted Lucki says the Fusion, a mid-size sedan that competes with the Accord and Camry, is gaining strength.