US automaker General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. reported Tuesday a sales increase in October, but another US automaker Chrysler Group LLC saw a significant decline.

GM's sales increased 4 percent last month compared to a year earlier, the first such increase in 21 months. GM sold 177,603 vehicles in October and gained market share for the third straight month. The automaker estimates it has 21 percent of the total light vehicle market.

Ford reported a 3 percent rise in monthly sales over October of last year. The automaker reported October US sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles totaling 132,483.

Ford says it marked the 12th time in 13 months that its US market share increased as it continues to grab buyers from competitors. Sales of cars and crossovers are seeing double-digit increases, while sales of sport utility vehicles and pickups are down. Retail sales of the Taurus have nearly tripled year-ago levels, Ford reported.

Ford said its sales rose 21 percent from September, when auto sales were still in a hangover after the cash for clunkers program boosted sales this summer.

Automakers had said October would be a test of how strong the market is without any effect from clunkers.

Meanwhile, Chrysler says its October sales fell 30 percent below the same month last year. But they improved from September when the US auto industry had a hangover from the government's summertime "cash for clunkers" program.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2009)