U.S. Automakers Finish Year With Strong December Sales
U.S. automakers finished the year with strong December sales as the industry had its best year since 2008 with a 10% improvement over last year, Bloomberg reported.
Industrywide sales reached 12.8 million for the year, according to an estimate by Autodata Corp. The December rate was 13.6 million.
General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Group LLC ended the year with a combined 47.1% of U.S. market share, up from 45.2% in 2010.
It was Ford’s third straight year of market share increase. Chrysler had the largest gain, rising to 10.7%, from 9.4% in 2010.
GM sold 2.5 million cars and light trucks last year, up 13% from 2010. December sales rose 4.5% to 234,351.
Ford’s sales rose 11% in 2011 to 2.14 million, with December sales up 10% to 209,447.
Chrysler’s 2011 sales rose 26%to 1.37 million. December sales jumped 37% to 138,019 cars and light trucks.
Toyota Motor Corp. sold 1.64 million vehicles cars and light trucks in the U.S. last year, down 6.7% December sales edged up 0.4%.
Honda Motor Co.’s 2011 sales fell 6.8% to 1.15 million, with December sales down 19%. Nissan Motor Co.’s 2011 U.S. sales rose 15% to 1.04 million, with December deliveries up 7.7%.
Hyundai Motor Co.’s 2011 U.S. sales rose 20% to 645,691, while December sales rose 13% to 50,765. Affiliate Kia Motors Corp.’s sales jumped 36% for the year and 43% in December.
