Automotive sales were up significantly in December for the three major US automakers: General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Group LLC.
General Motors dealers reported 223,932 total sales in December, a 16 percent increase from a year ago for the company's four brands. The gains were driven by solid retail sales which were 27 percent higher than December 2009. For the calendar year, total sales of GM's four brands increased 21 percent to 2,202,927, while retail sales rose 16 percent for the year. GM's four brands sold 118,435 more vehicles this year than the company did with eight brands in 2009.
Ford Motor Company's full-year sales totaled $1.935 million, up 19 percent versus a year ago, marking the largest increase of any full-line manufacturer. Ford's December retail sales were the highest for any month since August 2009, up 17 percent versus a year ago. Total sales were 190,976, up 7 percent versus a year ago. The total sales results include a 40 percent reduction in deliveries to daily rental customers. For the year, cars were up 17 percent, utilities were up 13 percent and trucks were up 27 percent.
The Chrysler Group reported that US sales in December 2010 totaled 100,702 units, a 16 percent increase compared with December 2009's sales of 86,523. Chrysler Group sales of 1,085,211 units in 2010 increased 17 percent compared with 2009 sales. Throughout 2010, Chrysler Group launched 16 all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles, representing 75 percent of its nameplates.