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Automakers are bracing for something of a letdown in domestic sales of cars and trucks this month after August's blistering results, the best in nearly two years, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Two Wall Street analysts said Sept. 25 they expect a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 16.5 million units in September, down dramatically from August's 19 million pace, according to an AP story by John Porretto.

Major automakers report September sales Oct. 1.

Alan Helfman, general manager of a Chrysler-Jeep business in Houston, said his sales are likely to be off 20 percent from last month, though he's hopeful an end-of-the-month promotion on some 2004 vehicles will provide a last-minute lift, AP said.

For example, Helfman said he's offering a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with no interest for three years - plus a $3,000 cash rebate, according to AP. Typically consumers opt for the financing deal or the cash.

"You knew there'd be a drop this month after the numbers in August, and September's typically not a barn-burner anyway," Helfman said. "Kids are back in school, and people have their heads elsewhere."

As well, many dealers are selling out of the 2003 models that have been heavily discounted in recent months. August volume also was helped by Labor Day weekend and the introduction of some 2004 models, according to AP.

Despite blistering sales rates in July and August, General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group saw their total sales fall 5 percent for the year's first eight months, AP said.

Conversely, their Asian competitors were up 3 percent through August, and European brands were up 1 percent, according to AP.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., American Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor America all established monthly sales records in the United States in August, and Toyota outsold the Chrysler Group for the first time in a single month, AP reported.

The Big Three posted a combined market share of 57.9 percent last month, an all-time low, according to AP.

AP reported that Goldman Sachs analyst Gary Lapidus predicts GM to be the only one of the Big Three to report a year-over-year sales increase in September.

Lapidus expects foreign companies, led by Toyota, Honda and Nissan, to post a 3.7 percent rise in sales from a year ago, according to AP.

AP said Merrill Lynch analyst John Casesa's forecast calls for a 5 percent to 10 percent year-over-year rise in sales at GM, flat sales to a 5 percent decline at Ford and a 10 percent to 15 percent decrease at Chrysler.

Casesa expects foreign automakers to see a slight increase in sales, according to AP.

In trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Ford shares were down 11 cents to close at $11.15, GM shares were off 3 cents to close at $40.79 and DaimlerChrysler's U.S. shares were off 13 cents to close at $35.66, AP reported.