U.S. automakers post encouraging sales figures in November

Three major U.S. carmakers have registered encouraging sales figures in November, inspiring investor optimism, according to figures released Tuesday.

Fiat Chrysler Automobile said the company sold 175,974 units in the United States, a 3 percent increase year on year, registering the company's best November sales since 2000.

The report also shows that Jeep sales increased by 20 percent year on year, with Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Wrangler each recording their best ever November sales.

General Motors' Chevrolet brand had the auto industry's largest sales increase, as sales of its trucks rose by 10 percent, and Chevrolet crossover sales rose by 35 percent.

Retail deliveries for the brand were up 13 percent, the highest of any manufacturer in November. GM has sold 7.2 million vehicles in the first nine months of 2015.

Ford also showed strong sales in November with 187,794 vehicles sold. Sales of its F series trucks jumped 16 percent, and commercial vans 59 percent. The figures led the company to declare November its best month for truck sales in eight years.

Analysts believed that potentially about 17.7 million vehicles could be sold in 2015, with an analyst from Ford declaring that 2015 will likely be a record year for the industry. However others cautioned that despite record sales, it is unlikely that the auto industry will be able to maintain this level of new orders in the long term. Endi