While the Detroit 3 have their hands out in front of Congress, the entire U.S. auto industry turned in a report of dismal November sales today. Every major automaker saw its sales crash and crash hard last month, and the only brand to gain ground was MINI, which saw sales jump 43% on account of last year's numbers being artificially low because production of the then-new Coopers couldn't meet demand.

Credit, we suppose, should also be given to Lincoln and Subaru, each of which posted only a single-digit percentage loss of sales last month.

Clearly what's effecting the Detroit 3 automakers is effecting the entire industry, which sort of blows a hole in the argument that people aren't buying from GM, Ford and Chrysler right now because of their inferior product. Toyota and Honda were both down over 30% last month and Nissan fell 42.2%, which means that Americans just aren't buying as many cars in general as they were last year.

We're curious to find out how last month's sales numbers hinders or helps the cause of the Detroit 3 in Washington this week. We'll find out Thursday when all three CEOs testify again after Congress has reviewed their proposed plans.

BY THE NUMBERS - November 2008
Brand	Vol. % Change	Total Sales 11/08	Total Sales 11/07	DSR % Change	Daily Avg. 11/08	Daily Avg. 11/07
Acura	-38.9%	7,888	12,910	-38.9%	316	516
Audi	-25.4%	6,788	9,104	-25.4%	272	364
BMW	-36%	15,217	23,808	-36%	609	952
Buick	-43.3%	7,516	13,245	-43.3%	301	530
Cadillac	-48.3%	8,815	17,041	-48.3%	353	682
Chevrolet	-36.9%	95,756	151,642	-36.9%	3,830	6,066
Chrysler	-56%	20,017	45,510	-56%	801	1,820
Dodge	-44.3%	44,941	80,670	-44.3%	1,794	3,227
Ford	-30%	103,055	147,310	-30%	4,122	5,892
GMC	-41.5%	20,214	34,549	-41.5%	809	1,382
Honda	-30.6%	68,345	98,521	-30.6%	2,734	3,941
HUMMER	-63.9%	1,454	4,029	-63.9%	58	161
Hyundai	-39.7%	19,221	31,883	-39.7%	769	1,275
Infiniti	-28%	7,631	10,604	-28%	305	424
Jeep	-41.8%	20,302	34,908	-41.8%	812	1,396
Kia	-37.2%	15,182	24,177	-37.2%	607	967
Lexus	-34.7%	16,223	24,848	-34.7%	649	994
Lincoln	-8.3%	8,019	8,744	-8.3%	321	350
Mazda	-31.3%	14,134	20,580	-31.3%	565	823
Mercedes-Benz	-38.2%	14,102	22,819	-38.2%	564	913
Mercury	-41.4%	7,744	13,204	-41.4%	310	528
MINI	43%	4,545	3,177	43%	182	127
Mitsubishi	-35.4%	5,096	7,893	-35.4%	204	316
Nissan	-44.4%	38,974	70,079	-44.4%	1,559	2,803
Pontiac	-53.4%	12,140	20,040	-53.4%	486	1,042
Porsche	-48.2%	1,378	2,662	-48.2%	55	106
Saab	-57.5%	852	2,003	-57.5%	34	80
Saturn	-46.2%	8,130	15,105	-46.2%	325	604
Subaru	-7.8%	13,706	14,868	-7.8%	548	595
Suzuki	-46.3%	3,216	5,987	-46.3%	129	239
Toyota	-33.8%	114,084	172,341	-33.8%	4,563	6,894
Volkswagen	-19.2%	14,295	17,689	-19.2%	572	708
Volvo	-46.5%	4,404	8,227	-46.5%	176	329
COMPANIES
BMW Group	-26.8%	19,762	26,985	-26.8%	790	1,079
Chrysler LLC	-47%	85,260	161,088	-47%	3,410	6,444
FoMoCo	-30.6%	123,222	177,485	-30.6%	4,929	7,099
General Motors	-41.3%	154,877	263,654	-41.3%	6,195	10,546
Honda America	-31.6%	76,233	111,431	-31.6%	3,049	4,457
Nissan NA	-42.2%	46,605	80,683	-42.2%	1,864	3,227
Toyota Mo Co	-33.9%	130,307	197,189	-33.9%	5,212	7,888

November 2008 had 25 selling days versus 25 selling days for November 2007


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