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U.S. auto giants post big sales gains in January

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Three major automakers of the United States all reported on Tuesday double-digit sales increases in January, with General Motors (GM) leading the way with an 18.3- percent gain over last January, Ford sales rising 15.3 percent and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) posting a 14-percent gain.

Buyers took advantage of low gas prices, easy access to credit and stable feelings about the economy to buy vehicles, particularly full-size trucks, crossovers and SUVs, according to the local media. Better weather than a year ago also seemed to aid automaker sales, which analysts expect will come in more than 10 percent higher than January of 2014.

GM dealers in the United States delivered 202,786 vehicles last month for the company's best January sales in seven years. Retail sales were up 14 percent and fleet deliveries were up 32 percent.

GM said year-over-year pickup deliveries increased 42 percent, following last month's 43 percent increase; sales of crossovers and SUVs were up 36 percent, with the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse, the GMC Terrain and the Buick Encore all posting their highest January sales ever.

Ford Motor Company reported that its retail sales increased by 13 percent --the best month for Ford since 2004. The Dearborn- based automaker said passenger car sales to retail customers rose by 6 percent, utilities were up 10 percent and truck sales rose 23 percent.

FCA posted its best January sales since 2007 with 145,007 vehicles sold last month. Its Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and Fiat brands each posted year-over-year increases, led by Jeep's 22. 9 percent rise. The company said 10 vehicles set January sales records included four Jeep vehicles. Ram pickup sales also jumped 14 percent.

"We kicked off 2015 with a 14-percent increase in sales and extended our year-over-year sales streak to 58 consecutive months, " said Reid Bigland, FCA's head of U.S. sales, in a statement.

Many industry forecasters are calling for U.S. auto sales to reach 17 million in 2015 after hitting 16.52 million last year, up by nearly 1 million sales from 2013. Enditem