Chrysler, GM, Nissan post big sales gains

Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images

A man opens the passenger door of a Jeep Wrangler on display at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. Chrysler's November sales rose 45 percent, helped by strong sales of its Jeep brand.

By Msnbc.com staff and wire

Automakers, including?Chrysler, GM, Ford, Toyota and Nissan?reported healthy?sales gains in the U.S. last month in a good sign for the overall economy and consumer demand.

The results underscore projections that Americans bought new cars at the fastest pace in more than two years as they replace aging cars. Analysts expect that the annual sales rate for November could range between 13.3 million and 14 million cars and trucks. That is far better than the rate of 12.6 million through the first 10 months of the year.

November sales also could approach the 14.1 million annual rate from August of 2009, when the government offered big rebates for drivers to trade in their gas-guzzling clunkers.

Chrysler led the pack with a 45 percent jump in sales it attributed to strong demand for its Jeep vehicles.

2:07 p.m. EST: Toyota said its U.S. sales rose 7 percent in November, boosted by the introductions of new models and improved dealer inventories.

Toyota's sales have suffered in the months since the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which resulted in parts shortages that limited how many vehicles it could build.

Toyota sold a total of 137,960 new cars and trucks, up from 129,317 in the same month last year.
Car sales rose 18.8 percent, as sales of the Prius hybrid, including its new Prius V model, increased by nearly half and Camry sales, including its new gas and hybrid versions, jumped 13 percent.

Truck sales fell 5.4 percent, as sales of nearly every model fell.

12:33 p.m. EST: Ford said its U.S. sales rose 13 percent in November, as higher sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles countered a decline in cars. Sales totaled 166,865 vehicles last month, compared with 147,338 a year earlier.

The automaker says sales of cars last month fell 9 percent, while sales of SUVs jumped 29 percent. Truck sales were up 22.8 percent. Ford-branded sales were up 20 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the Explorer tripled, while sales of the Ford Escape were up 46 percent.

Ford Motor Co. also said?it believes the current momentum in the industry should continue. It plans to build 675,000 vehicles in the first quarter of next year, up 3 percent, or 18,000 vehicles, compared with the same period this year.

10:42 a.m. EST: GM sales climbed 7 percent while Nissan's sales rose 19 percent, below Chrysler's 45 percent rise, but still strong.

Buyers snapped up GM's small cars and pickup trucks. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze compact rose 54 percent, while the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, GM's top-selling vehicle, saw sales jump 34 percent.

"We are seeing a broad spectrum of customers return to the market," said Don Johnson, GM's U.S. sales chief.

At Nissan, the tiny Versa led sales with a 38 percent increase, but SUV and truck sales also rose 32 percent.

8:30 a.m. EST: Chrysler's U.S. sales jumped 45 percent last month thanks to strong demand for the Jeep brand.

Chrysler sold 107,172 new cars and trucks last month compared with 74,152 a year earlier. Jeep sales rose 44 percent on strong demand for the Compass crossover and the Liberty small SUV.

Higher incentives in November also brought buyers into showrooms. TrueCar.com says Chrysler's incentives rose 6 percent from October to nearly $3,300 per vehicle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the numbers from GM and a company outlook, with Don Johnson, General Motors VP of U.S. sales.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9140673-chrysler-gm-nissan-post-big-sales-gains

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