U.S. Auto Sales Rise Again in December

U.S. new car sales are on track to top 14.4 million vehicles in 2012, and up to 15.5 million in the new year. Today's reports on sales from major automakers continue a winning streak of several months duration now.

Chrysler Group LLC, now majority owned by Italy's Fiat SpA, reported December sales rose 10% year-over-year. Auto shopping web site Edmunds.com had forecast a monthly increase of 7.3% for the company. Chrysler sold a total of 152,367 units in December, the company's best December total since 2007. For the year, Chrysler sales topped 1.65 million units, the company's highest annual sales in five years.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) posted a sales gain of 5% year-over-year in December to 245,733 vehicles sold. Like Chrysler, this was GM's best December total since 2007 and its best month for retail sales in all of 2012. GM sold a total of nearly 2.6 million units in 2012, up 3.7% from 2011 sales.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) showed a sales gain of 2% in December and total sales of 2.25 million units for 2012. Annual sales rose 4.7%, with car sales up 5.3% and truck sales up 2.4%. Ford's Focus brand showed the sharpest growth, up 40% year-over-year to about 246,000 units in 2012.

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) said full-year 2012 sales rose 27% and sales in December were up 9% compared with sales in December 2011. For the year, Toyota reported sales of 2.08 million units.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) has not released December sales yet.

Paul Ausick

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Autos Tagged: F, GM, HMC, TM