Automaker sales gains in the new year

DETROIT - Americans supported car manufacturers trust in January. They bought more cars and trucks and showed a still fragile industry that they were ready to replace your clunkers 2011.

Expected to total approximately 800,000 for the month were sales. This is sales of 698,000 still under the pre-recession level of 1 million or more, but better than last January.

Almost all major automotive companies reported double-digit gains for the month, a sign the slow recovery of the US auto sales that started last year falls by the wayside. While recovery could get shaken, when unrest in the Middle East gas prices hinaufgeschiebt or unemployment remains high, the industry with what it saw last month was delighted.

"January signals a good start into the new year for us, for the industry and we think it's a good sign for the entire U.S. economy," said Don Johnson, Vice President of U.S. sales for General Motors co.

Car buyers have been for almost all shopping. Sales of SUVS redesigned recently like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer was strong. People tear small cars like the Nissan versa, and Honda fit.

Pickups remained strong, still a streak which began last year thanks to growing demand from construction crews and other small businesses. Ford F-series sales increased 30 percent. Crossovers that combine the spaciousness of the SUVs with car-like handling, also remained strong. Sales of the Chevrolet Equinox rose, for example, 35 percent.

In January of this year fueled car rental companies and other companies rest in car sales, as they began their fleets after the recession to restock. But last month individual buyers propelled sales.

GM said its sales to individuals 36 percent, increased during his fleet sales decreased 7 percent. Ford Motor Co. saw a similar trend.

Offers help to move the metal. Car companies more border in January with incentives, the collision with an average of $2,576 per vehicle, threw, said Jesse Toprak, Vice President of industry analysis at auto pricing site TrueCar.com. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. increased incentives by 40 percent.

Also sales spurred the lowest interest rates in decades. Banks and finance companies have loosened on credit in the last few months, and people with good grades can annual interest rates as low as 4 percent on auto loans, said Paul Ballew, a former Chief Economist at GM, now when insurance company nationwide. Plus to subsidize automaker loans, so that prices cut even lower monthly payments fall.

"If you pay more than 2 to 3 percent on a loan, you probably not hard enough shopping," said Ballew.

Fuel costs are a major factor, what customers don't buy because people have adapted to rising gas prices, said Toprak. Prices were to $3.10 per gallon at the end of last month, more than a year ago 44 cents floats. But you could be a greater role for car buyers, if you $4 per gallon hit. Toprak said that is likely given the recent riots in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East.

GM and Chrysler Group LLC led the way sales last month, each reporting 23 percent increased compared to last January.

GM Cadillac brand saw a 49 percent increase in demand for the new CTS Coupe, which last fall went on sale. GM sold also 321 sales of the Chevrolet Volt, an electric car with a backup gas engine. Only other electric cars on the market, the Nissan leaf, sold 87 for the month.

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Toyota Motor Corp. had a rest from January 2010 as sales rose by 17 percent. In January of this year he lost an estimated 20,000 sales it reminds the faulty gas pedals eight models due. Toyota fought customers all last year, but now says it will keep you, and you can steal from other brands.

Toyota truck sales increased by 37 percent for the month, led by the RAV 4 small SUV. Car sales increased by 15 percent. The compact Corolla and gas electric hybrid Prius each rose more than 20 percent.

Ford sales increased 9 percent, partly because of a significant decrease in the fleet and partly because the setting of the Mercury brand at the end of last year. Ford sold 248 mercury in January, 5,000 lower than in the same month a year earlier.

Other automakers of reporting sales Tuesday:

Honda Motor Co. said sales growth of 13 percent. The CR-V was Honda's best-selling model with revenue growth of 69%. Honda increased its innovation incentives by 45 percent to $2.074 per vehicle, the largest jump in the industry according to Toprak. Nissan Motor Co. sales growth was 15 percent of the strength of its Rogue crossover, sales jump 72 percent. Kia Motors sales rose by 26 percent, led by the Sorento, which a car and a SUV of the redesigned Optima sedan combines the features.

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