DRIVING INTO 1982 By JAMES V. HIGGINS UPI Aato Writer . DETROIT (UPI) - The battered U.S. auto industry enters the 1982 model yea: with cars it considers ‘hot, but a market. still distressingly cold. When large numbers of Americans decide to start buying cars again, automakers say, the industry will be ready. That’s a considerable auto ars are hot shouldn't be as difficult. “It’s going to be a hell of a lot easier than it was in 1981, I'm sure of that,” said Robert D. Burger, vice president in charge of General Motors Corp. sales staffs. Although consumers are still concerned about high gasoline prices, the industry is convinced the biggest drag on the market today is economic -uncertainty. Of the average factors in the switch from early 1979 when they tried to peddle gas- guzzlers to motorists queued up in panic lines at service stations. For 1982, in a culmination of the industry’s expensive downsizing programs, the product is more attuned to the times. The industry believes its selling job economy, high interest rates contribute most to hold down car sales. they say. Dealers and consumers frequently add that car prices are shockingly high. Despite those conditions, outside analysts are willing to concede the industry a modest sales gain in 1982 from this year. This year, the industry's first recovery year from the 1974-75 recession, saw a 17 per cent sales gain. An in- crease of that size in 1982 would mean sales of about 10.5 million domestic and foreign cars. Scattered sales projections for 1982 are in that range. But analysts say the in- dustry’s deepest recession in °50 Years won't really end un- til there are solid overall economic improvements. Voicing an opinion held inside and outside the in- dustry, Maryann N. Keller, first vice president and auto analyst for Paine Webber Mitchell Hutchins, Inc., said car sales will rebound strongly at some point. “But the forces that bring it back are not going to be new models,” she said.’ “It’s not going to be pent-up de- mand. It’s going to be me and you and the guy making $20,000 a year with two kids suddenly feeling confident about the economy, feeling that he’s going to be employed in the next four TOTALLY NEW, the Chrysler LeBaron is two feet shorter and nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than the care it replaces. It is built on a nimble 2,583 mm (99.9 inch) wheelbase, and ts less than 15 feet long overall. While LeBaron’s new, shorter wheelbase is comparable in length to many subcompact cars, It was designed with a full six-passenger mid-size interior. The Canadian Red Cross Society 40 years expenence ¢ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS 6 * COMPLETE GENERAL MECHANICAL ¢ WHEEL. 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For the year, Keller said GM profits could swell to $1 billion. Ford could lose 1980 - when * BS - Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1981 - North Shore News about Chrysler’s deficit | reach $450 million. billion at at GM. Cutting overhead costs has helped trim the industry's _ losses. That drive, carrying over into 1982, could pro- duce some of the year’s most - out market cool | $660 million. could In 1980, losses were $1.7 Chrysler, billion at Ford, $763 million spectacular fireworks. (to be continued next week) 1.B. Auto Service Ltd. 986-5122 bes 1189 W. 16th $¢. North Vancouver, B.C. TAKASHI SAWADA GOOD NEWS FOR HONDA OWNERS IKE of 1.8. Asto is pleased to announce the addition of TAKASHI SAWADA to his staff in early May. Takeshi Saweda has been employed by the Hondo factory in Japan and brings to 1.8. Auto the benefit of his over 10 years technical ex- perience and complements the present staff. 1.8. 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