Sales for September Drive Autos Higher

In the following video, Fool.com analysts Blake Bos and Isaac Pino discuss September's roundup of auto-sales data, which was released earlier today. Automakers Ford, General Motors, Fiat, and Toyota all released data, and sales look promising overall.

The report from Ford showed auto sales were flat at 174,976 units, but that figure was misleading, as Fusion sales have trailed off because of the imminent release of the new 2013 model. The company reaffirmed guidance, but Mr. Market reacted negatively, sending the shares down 1.41% today.

GM shares ended the day up 2.56% after reporting that sales increased 1.5% to 210,245 units. The Detroit-based automaker was optimistic on its lineup, citing improvements in quality, new marketing campaigns, and several new vehicle launches.

Chrysler, which is now owned by Fiat, continues to gain market share, with sales jumping 12% to 142,041 units. Since the purchase by Fiat, the company has been firing on all cylinders. Fiat shares ended the day up 2.92% on the good news.

Last but not least, investors heard from Toyota. The automaker reported that sales increased 41.5% to 171,910 units and is closing in on Ford for the coveted No. 2 spot.

Check out the video for more.

It was a positive day for automakers, and investors had some great takeways from the releases. However, while the data looks good for the United States, trouble still looms large overseas. Right now, the entire industry seems plagued with oversupply issues on the all-important European continent, which has weighed heavily on shares of Ford in recent weeks. Trading only marginally higher than it was a year ago, Ford's stock seems stuck in neutral. Does this create an incredible buying opportunity, or are there hidden risks with the stock that investors need to know about? To answer that, one of our top equity analysts has compiled a premium research report with in-depth analysis on whether Ford is a buy right now, and why. Simply click here to get instant access to this premium report.