August auto sales drop for GM, Ford, rise slightly for FCA

Auto industry in the United States slowed the pace of growth, as August auto sales posted by General Motors (GM) and Ford dropped while sales of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles rose slightly.

GM sold 256,429 vehicles in August, down 5.2 percent year on year, which is a reflection of the automaker' s strategy of cutting back on fleet sales and boosting retail sales. GM retail sales went up one percent in the first eight months.

Cadillac was the only GM brand that posted a sales gain of 3.9 percent year on year in August; GMC sales fell 14 percent; Chevrolet sales fell 3.9 percent; and Buick sales fell 2.7 percent.

GM expects its annual selling rate to reach 17.3 million units this year, slightly below 2015's record-setting figures.

Ford sold 214,482 vehicles in August, down 8.4 percent year on year.

Lincoln luxury brand and van sales of the Dearborn-based automaker rose 7 percent and 13 percent, respectively; while its car, SUV and truck sales fell 25.4 percent, 0.8 percent and 1.6 percent.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) sold 196,756 vehicles in August, up 3 percent from the same period of 2015.

Jeep brand under FCA posted a sales gain of 12 percent; Dodge, 5 percent; and Ram, 2 percent. But sales of Fiat brand fell 21 percent; and that of Chrysler, 22 percent

Auto retail sales in the United States have kept growing for 66 consecutive months starting from September 2010, and only reported drops in four of the past six months. Endit