Testing times ahead for big automakers

The big three US automakers — General Motors (GM), Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) — posted lower sales in the US market in 2017, compared to record-high numbers of 2016. GM reported on Wednesday that its full-year sales of 3.002 million vehicles in 2017 was down 1.3 percent from a year ago. The company reported it sold more than 1.3 million trucks and 965,090 crossover vehicles last year. Ford said annual sales dropped by 1.1 percent to 2.587 million vehicles, which included a 4.3 percent increase in sales for trucks and a 4.3 percent sales increase compared to 2016 for sport utility vehicles as well.