The Detroit Three all had strong U.S. April sales, recording levels not seen since the housing market collapse and the Bush Great Depression took hold during the last decade. The U.S. auto market is continuing its slow recovery and is on track to top more than 15 million vehicles for the 2013 calendar year.
Market leader General Motors sold 237,646 vehicles in the United States, up 11% compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 10%, fleet sales were up 16% and the fleet mix was 28% of total sales.
Number Two Ford Motor had an even stronger month with sales up 18% at 212,584 vehicles compared to last year, the best April sales since 2007, with cars up 21%, utilities up 16% and trucks up 16%.
Moreover, Number Four Chrysler Group, at 156,698 units, saw an 11% increase compared with sales in April 2012, also the best April since 2007.
Things are also looking up for the Detroit Three:
Chevrolet dealers began receiving their first shipments of the all-new 2014 Impala in mid-April, and the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cabs will begin arriving in dealerships in the summer. Buick is launching redesigns of the Regal and LaCrosse in late summer and Cadillac will launch an all-new CTS luxury sedan in the fall. All four GM brands posted higher total and retail sales.
Ford Fusion and Escape both establish April sales records, with sales increases of 24% and 52% respectively. F-Series, America’s best-selling pickup for 36 years, posted a 24% increase, with sales of 59,030 – best April sales results since 2006
Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records in the month of April. The Jeep Compass compact SUV and the Jeep Wrangler each had their best April sales ever, as did the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Fiat 500, and Ram Cargo Van. The all-new Dodge Dart compact car had its best sales month since the vehicle was launched in June last year.
