Global sales of passenger cars and trucks likely surpassed 90 million for the first time in 2017, the latest indicator that demand for conventional automobiles remains strong even as driverless cars and ride sharing get increasing attention.
The results were fueled in part by a continued rebound in Western Europe and recovery in major emerging markets, including Brazil and Russia. Asian buyers are the main engine for sales growth with more than a quarter of the cars sold last year going to Chinese customers, up from less than 15% a decade ago.
The North American market is the world’s most profitable for auto makers, but American dealership traffic has slowed after several years of momentum. Analysts expect U.S. sales in 2017 to fall short of a record 2016 and are bracing for production cuts in the first quarter of this year amid further slowdown.
December’s U.S. sales are due out Wednesday (tomorrow).One of my books on my night table is a small little hardcover, Cars, by Stephen Bayley, c. 2009. It is reviewed at The New York Times here.
The full title: Cars: Freedom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, Everything.
From the New York Times review:
Stephen Bayley, the author, is a longtime writer for Car magazine.
In a 22-page but seemingly endless introductory essay, Bayley claims, “This is a book about the 80 or so greatest car designs ever.” He announces: “You will find no references to power outputs, speed, acceleration. . . . My subject is the more elusive one of art.”
Bayley over-proves his point: “The ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air is at least as interesting as a ’57 David Smith.”
Surely sculptors appreciate mention of dimensions and materials. Smith, by the way, learned his craft at a Studebaker plant. Auto enthusiasts greatly admire his welds. Bayley doesn’t mention this, or much else worthwhile.
Bayley seems to think Henry Ford built his first car in 1908 (not true); says “there was a time before cars were designed” (not possible); and calls the 1959 Cadillac “the most absurd, magnificent, appalling and perfect demonstration of consumerism without morals.” (It was just an ugly car.)
Bayley natters mystifyingly about General Motors’ midcentury styling chief, Harley Earl: “He flew on the inaugural flight of the Boeing 707 and was filmed eating a banana.”
I don't know anything about cars, but I had the same feeling as the reviewer when I first read the book. But the book turned out to be a great jumping off point to learn a bit more about designers and designs.The pages of “Cars” are littered with inapposite quotations:Everywhere,
Giant finned cars nose
forward like fish;
A savage servility
Slides by on grease.
Robert LowellDidn’t the mental hospital take Lowell’s license away?
For those interested, here are the cars featured by Bayley:
Cars
|
Stephen Bayley
|
c. 2009
|
|
1908
|
US
|
Ford
|
Model T
|
1934
|
France
|
Citroen
|
11CV Traction Avant
|
1935
|
US
|
Ford
|
Lincoln Zephyr
|
1936
|
US
|
Chrysler
|
Airflow
|
1939
|
Germany
|
BMW
|
328 Mille Miglia
|
1941
|
US
|
Willys Overland
|
Jeep
|
1947
|
Italy
|
Consorzio
|
Cisitalia
|
1948
|
US
|
GM
|
Cadillac ‘61
|
1948
|
Great Britain
|
Jaguar
|
XK 120
|
1948
|
Great Britain
|
Land Rover
|
Series 1
|
1949
|
Germany
|
Porsche
|
356
|
1949
|
France
|
Citroen
|
2CV
|
1949
|
Germany
|
Volkswagen
|
Beetle
|
1949
|
US
|
Ford
|
49 Ford
|
1949
|
Sweden
|
Saab
|
92
|
1950
|
Germany
|
Volkswagen
|
Transporter
|
1951
|
Italy
|
Pininfarina
|
Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
|
1952
|
Great Britain
|
Bentley
|
R-Type Continental
|
1953
|
US
|
Studebaker
|
Starlight
|
1953
|
France
|
Panhard
|
Dyna
|
1953
|
Great Britain
|
AC
|
Ace
|
1953
|
US
|
Chevrolet
|
Corvette
|
1954
|
Germany
|
Mercedes-Benz
|
300 SL
|
1954
|
US
|
Ford
|
Thunderbird
|
1954
|
Italy
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Giulietta Sprint
|
1955
|
Italy
|
Lancia Aurelia
|
B24
|
1955
|
Great Britain
|
Morris Garages
|
MGA
|
1955
|
Italy
|
Fiat
|
600
|
1955
|
France
|
Citroen
|
DS
|
1955
|
Germany
|
BMW
|
507
|
1956
|
Sweden
|
Volvo
|
Amazon 120
|
1956
|
Italy
|
Fiat
|
Multipla
|
1957
|
US
|
Chevrolet
|
Bel Air
|
1957
|
US
|
Ford
|
Fairlane 500 Skyliner
|
1957
|
Great Britain
|
Lotus
|
Elite
|
1957
|
Italy
|
Fiat
|
500
|
1958
|
US
|
Nash
|
Metropolitan
|
1959
|
Great Britain
|
Jaguar
|
Mark II
|
1959
|
Sweden
|
Volvo
|
P1800
|
1959
|
US
|
Chevrolet
|
Corvair
|
1959
|
Great Britain
|
Austin
|
A40
|
1959
|
Great Britain
|
Mini
|
Mini
|
1959
|
US
|
GM
|
Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
|
1961
|
US
|
Ford
|
Lincoln Continental
|
1961
|
Great Britain
|
Jaguar
|
E-Type
|
1961
|
Germany
|
BMW
|
1500
|
1961
|
Germany
|
NSU
|
Prinz
|
1961
|
Italy
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Giulia
|
1961
|
France
|
Renault
|
4
|
1962
|
Italy
|
Lancia Flavia
|
Zagato
|
1963
|
US
|
Ford
|
Cortina
|
1963
|
Germany
|
Porsche
|
911
|
1963
|
GM
|
Buick
|
Riviera
|
1963
|
Great Britain
|
Rover
|
P6
|
1963
|
Germany
|
Mercedes-Benz
|
SL
|
1963
|
US
|
Chevrolet
|
Corvette
|
1963
|
France
|
Panhard
|
24CT
|
1963
|
Italy
|
Ferrari
|
250 GTO
|
1964
|
US
|
Ford
|
Mustang
|
1964
|
US
|
Pontiac
|
GTO
|
1965
|
Japan
|
Toyota
|
2000GT
|
1966
|
US
|
GM
|
Toronado
|
1966
|
Japan
|
Toyota
|
Corolla
|
1966
|
Sweden
|
Volvo
|
144
|
1966
|
Italy
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Duetto Spider
|
1967
|
Germany
|
NSU
|
Ro80
|
1967
|
Italy
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Montreal
|
1968
|
Italy
|
Ferrari
|
Daytona
|
1968
|
Great Britain
|
Jaguar
|
XJ6
|
1970
|
France
|
Citroen
|
SM
|
1970
|
Great Britain
|
Ranger Rover
|
Range Rover
|
1971
|
Italy
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Alfasud
|
1971
|
Italy
|
Fiat
|
130 Coupe
|
1971
|
Italy
|
Lamborghini
|
Countach
|
1972
|
Germany
|
BMW
|
5 Series
|
1972
|
France
|
Renault
|
5
|
1974
|
Germany
|
Volkswagen
|
Golf
|
1977
|
Sweden
|
Saab
|
Turbo
|
1979
|
Italy
|
Fiat
|
Panda
|
1982
|
US
|
Ford
|
Sierra
|
1982
|
Germany
|
Audi
|
100
|
1992
|
France
|
Renault
|
Twingo
|
1998
|
Germany
|
Daimler-Benz
|
smart
|
1999
|
France
|
Renault
|
Avantime
|
2002
|
Japan
|
Nissan
|
Cube
|
2003
|
Germany
|
BMW
|
5
|
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