Smart ForTwo, Porsche Cayman among 2010 sales losers

The automotive industry followed a disastrous year in 2009 with an encouraging sales year in 2010. About 11.5 million cars and light trucks will be sold in the United States this year, an improvement from 10.4 million in 2009.

Automotive industry experts forecast sales of 12.8 million in 20111 and 17.1 million by 2015. But while several manufacturers’ brands — Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Ford, Hyundai and Jeep — had banner years in 2010, several manufacturers had dismal sales years.  

Mostly notably, Mazda and Suzuki had the worst sales years in 2010, combining for half of the top-10 poorest-selling cars by percentage when compared to 2009 sales.

According to a tabulations and forecast for final December sales, Forbes.com reports the Smart ForTwo joined the Subaru Tribeca with th largest decrease in sales in 2010 from a year ago.

Forbes reported: ” . . .  The fuel-sipping Smart ForTwo, which was all the rage in 2008, when gas was $4 a gallon, but has endured a two-year sales collapse. The quirky two-seater from Germany’s Daimler AG is down 61 percent this year, on top of a 41 percent decline in 2009.

“Penske Automotive Group, which distributes the vehicle in the U.S., is now testing Car2Go, a car-sharing concept for Smart, and plans to market an electric Smart soon.”

Here’s the list of the top-10 poorest-selling cars of 2010 when compared to sales of 2009

Smart ForTwo, down 61 percent
Subaru Tribeca, down 61 percent
Mazda RX-8, down 50 percent
Suzuki SX4, down 47 percent
Suzuki Grand Vitara, down 42 percent
Suzuki Equator, down 39 percent
Toyota Yaris, down 39 percent
Mazda Tribute, down 36 percent
Scion xD, down 31 percent
Porsche Cayman, down 31 percent