Peugeot 406 Berline and Break SV Photo : PSA

Automobile Division sales rose 6.7% during the period to euro16,410 million (FRF 107,643 million).

Worldwide sales of Peugeot and Citroën passenger cars and CKD units increased 9.8% to 1,278,300 units, reflecting strong demand for the Peugeot 206 (270,400 units), new versions of the Citroën Berlingo (up 21.3%) and Peugeot Partner (up 15.8%) and the HDI diesel engine, which is now available on the Citroën Xantia, Xsara and Synergy and the Peugeot 406, 306 and 806. In a European market that grew by 8%, sales of Group cars and light commercial vehicles rose by 11.7% to 1,130,300 units. Outside Europe, sales volumes decreased by only 2.7%, despite declining demand in South America.

The Automotive Equipment business increased its sales to outside companies by 5.7% during the period, to euro1,521 million (FRF 9,976 million). The contribution of the Transportation business rose by 5.7% to euro297 million (FRF 1,945 million) thanks to growth in merchandise shipping.

Revenues from the finance companies, which mainly consist of interest on the financing of sales, amounted to euro520 million (FRF 3,412 million). This represents a slight 0.5% increase from the first-half 1998 figure restated for the full consolidation of Crédipar. The Group gained control of Crédipar in December 1998.

The contribution of the other businesses increased 8% over the prior-year period to euro272 million (FRF 1,785 million).

*Assembled vehicles, disassembled components and CKD units

Photo: Joe Wilssens

WIS., July 27, 1999 – Ford Motor Company executives, Neil Ressler, left, chief technical officer, and James Schroer, vice presidentGlobal Marketing, introduce EAA President Tom Poberezny, right, to Ford-s latest Thunderbird concept car and a vintage 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane at a press conference here to announce Ford as the official vehicle sponsor for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture convention and air show. -AirVenture is a perfect place to introduce high-tech systems to a technically oriented audience,- Ressler said. In addition to Thunderbird, Ford also unveiled a Ford Expedition equipped with the first prototype satellite radio that will be available on Ford vehicles in 2001. AirVenture begins July 28 and runs through August 3, 1999.

The GM board also today declared the following quarterly dividends: $0.495 per Series D depositary; and $0.57 per GM Series G depositary share. These dividends are payable Nov. 1, 1999, to holders of record on Oct. 4, 1999. In addition, the board today declared two dividends on the Series H preference stock. A dividend of $0.5853 per share of Series H preference stock is payable on Aug. 2, 1999, to the sole holder of record on that date for the brief period between the close of the transaction and the end of the first quarter. A quarterly dividend of $8.7793 per share for the Series H preference stock is payable Nov. 1, 1999, to the holder of record on Oct. 4, 1999.