In U.S. auto sales to helped by strong retail volume, new models and fuel-efficient vehicles -- rose 18 percent last month as automakers beat back the effects of rising gasoline prices and dwindling supplies of vehicles.
The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 13.2 million marked the third straight month above the 13 million mark. Every automaker increased sales as the industry posted its second biggest percentage gain of the year.
South Korea’s Hyundai and Kia paced the gainers with a combined increase of 47 percent. Their three biggest Japanese rivals – Toyota, Honda and Nissan – all lost share as they battled product shortages following the March 11 earthquake. General Motors and Chrysler boosted share.
“There’s a recovery going on in the auto industry and the economy,” Ford sales analyst George Pipas said. “There are more people working today than 2 or 3 months ago, and there’s more income.”
U.S. auto sales are now up 20 percent for the year. Last month’s SAAR of 13.2 million is still well below the industry’s sales peak of more than 17 million units in 2000 and 2001 but a sign that the industry’s recovery is continuing despite rising fuel prices and mixed readings on employment growth and consumer confidence.
GM’s gain was spurred by a 50 percent jump in demand for cars including the new Chevrolet Cruze. But large pickups rose just 2 percent, and sales of some of the automaker’s biggest SUVs slumped.
Ford said sales rose 13 percent last month. At the Ford division, volume jumped 24 percent on higher sales of F-Series pickups and the new Explorer crossover. Both models offer more fuel-efficient powertrains. But at Lincoln, demand eased 1 percent, reflecting a drop in crossover and large SUV sales.
Hyundai, propelled by the new Elantra small car, said sales rose 40 percent to set an April record of 61,754 units. Hyundai said it expects its U.S. retail market share to hit a record 5.7 percent for the month.
Hyundai also said its sales to fleet customers have dropped 45 percent this year, with fleet representing 13 percent of volume year-to-date and 11 percent in April.
Nissan said higher sales of fuel-efficient models such as the Altima, Sentra, Leaf and Rogue offset a drop in truck and SUV demand. Its overall sales rose 12 percent.
But Toyota Motor Co.’s sales rose just 1 percent last month, with Lexus down 4 percent and Scion surging 60 percent.
Toyota-brand car sales dropped 2 percent, while its truck and SUV volume rose 2 percent. Bob Carter, head of Toyota’s American division, said the automaker was looking forward to “healthy inventory” despite the impact of parts shortages from Japan.
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