US auto sales extend rebound from winter slump
Washington (AFP) - Automakers on Thursday reported generally higher US sales in April from a year ago, extending the spring thaw from the deep freeze in January and February amid brutal winter weather.
A total of 1.39 million cars and trucks were sold in the United States in April, a gain of 8.1 percent from a year ago and accelerating from March's 5.7 percent annual pace, industry specialist AutoData said.
But sales slowed slightly month-over-month. The April annual sales rate was 16.0 million vehicles, down from 16.4 million in March, according to AutoData.
Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst at Edmunds.com, a car-shopping website, said that despite a trend toward fuel-efficient vehicles in recent years, car shoppers still showed keen interest in trucks and sport utility vehicles.
"SUVs, in particular, are not only selling well, but they are selling at a quicker pace than cars, pickups, or vans. SUVs are selling, on average, 20 days faster than other cars and trucks," the analyst said.
General Motors, the largest US automaker, said total sales rose 7.0 percent in April from a year ago, to 254,076 vehicles.
Kurt McNeil, GM's US vice president of sales operations, was upbeat about demand.
"The economy continues to strengthen," he said. "Retail demand was steady in April, and truck sales and transaction prices were especially strong."
Chrysler Group, the US unit of Italy's Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, clocked in a 14 percent jump year-over-year with 178,652 vehicles sold, its best April performance since 2007.
For GM and Chrysler, sales gains were higher than estimates of 4.7 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively, from analysts at Edmunds. com, a car-shopping website.
But Ford Motor Company, the number-two US automaker, reported sales fell 1.0 percent from a year ago, to 141,950 vehicles. Edmunds.com analysts had forecast a 4.6 percent increase.
Ford's sales numbers came the same day the company named chief operating officer Mark Fields to replace Alan Mulally as chief executive on July 1.
Japanese rival Toyota, the world's top automaker, said US sales increased 9.0 percent to 199,660 vehicles.
"Sales momentum from March rolled into April pushing the industry to its best back-to-back monthly sales pace since fall of 2007," said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager.
Fellow Japanese automaker Nissan said US sales shot up 18.5 percent to an April record of 94,764 vehicles.
Honda's sales fell 2.9 percent from last year's record in April to 96,704 vehicles.
"Even though our April sales were off slightly, it was still one of the 10 best sales months in American Honda history," said Dick Colliver, the company's executive vice president of sales.
"The market is very competitive, but there are still plenty of people out shopping for cars and trucks."
South Korean firm Hyundai Motor said its US unit sales rose 4.4 percent to 66,107 cars and trucks.
Volkswagen's US sales skidded sharply lower. The German company posted a 10.4 percent drop from a year ago, to 30,831 units.
