Chrysler Sales up 33% for May; Ford, GM Rise 23%, 16.6%
Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. posted double-digit sales increases last month thanks to new vehicles and strong fleet sales, The Detroit News reported. Chrysler led Detroit's Big Three automakers with a 33 percent increase compared to a year ago, when it was in bankruptcy. Ford sales rose 23 percent, and GM's rose 16.6 percent. Excluding castoff brands Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn, sales of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles rose almost 32 percent compared to May 2009. Last month, GM sold 223,822 vehicles and posted the fifth consecutive month of double-digit sales gains for the four core brands. Ford, meanwhile, sold 192,253 vehicles last month, and the Dearborn automaker marked the sixth consecutive month of at least a 20 percent sales gain. Toyota Motor Corp. reported a 6.7 percent rise in May sales to 162,813 vehicles. The Toyota division posted a 3.6 percent sales increase to 140,597 cars and light trucks, while premium Lexus sales jumped 31.3 percent to 22,216 vehicles. Nissan Motor Co. sold 83,764 vehicles last month, a 24.1 percent increase, while Honda Motor Co.'s sales rose 19.1 percent to 117,173 vehicles. Hyundai Motor Co. reported a 33 percent sales jump to 49,045 vehicles in May, bolstered by strong demand for the new Sonata and Tucson models. Chrysler sold 104,819 vehicles, the first time the Auburn Hills automaker has crossed the 100,000 mark since March 2009.
More Industry

Selling to Grow
The question of whether you should sell your agency and if so, when, is up to you. But it’s a question worth asking to ensure you keep the business on the right path for yourself, employees and clients.
Read More →
Auto Group Acquires Top-Performing Rooftop
Car Pros sold its Kia Huntington Beach location to Sutherlin Automotive Group, marking the buyer’s third location in Southern California.
Read More →
China as Pacesetter
Automotive leaders huddled on where North America stands in the global picture and how it can strengthen its position against the Asian juggernaut’s surging industry.
Read More →
BMW Concept Car Makes Fuel to Burn
The prototype developed in concert with a South Carolina university engineering team generates more solar energy than it uses in a typical daily commute.
Read More →
South Carolina Auto Group Downsizes
Florida-based group Holler-Classic has acquired four rooftops, its first in South Carolina, from Dick Smith Automotive Group.
Read More →
July Was Hot for Auto Borrowers
Credit proved readily available for many, but most loans left buyers in negative territory, Cox Automotive said.
Read More →
Structure Leads to Optimized Auto Listings
As the average car-buying journey has shifted to a blend of digital and retail, a dealership’s vehicle listings must be optimized to answer shoppers’ questions clearly and accurately.
Read More →
Consumers Mixed on Economy, Finances
A July survey shows spotty sentiment of current and future conditions, in addition to demographic differences as overall opinion of present circumstances kept sliding.
Read More →
EVs Closing the European Gap
Electrified powertrains led June new-vehicle sales in Europe, reaching 26% of the market.
Read More →
Early Intervention Saves Retention
Sales and service departments have the highest annual dealership turnover rates, according to a new industry report, costing money and time that could be better spent elsewhere.
Read More →