GM, Ford and Chrysler aren't the only ones with excess inventory to get rid of. Hyundai Motor Co. halted production at its Montgomery, Ala., assembly plant a few days ago because their dealers already have too many unsold Sonata sedans.

The plant is set to close again on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, according to Hyundai spokesman Robert Burns. No word on whether or not more shutdowns are planned yet but "We expect the idle to be temporary," Burns said.

It's no wonder since in the first nine months of 2007, U.S. sales of the Sonata model were almost 20 % under the numbers from the year-ago period. As it was, they were already cutting back on the build numbers, with daily production of Sonatas at the Alabama plant down from 711 vehicles in September 2006 to 429 in Sept '07.

Get ready to see rebates coming to Hyundai and dealer spiffs in the offing to move the old iron off the dealer's lots. After all, there's no point in building them if they can't sell them. Wait a little longer and maybe the price will even drop.