Chicago, March 2 (IANS) Chrysler Group LLC reported a 40 percent increase in February while Ford Motor Co.’s sales rose 14 percent and General Motors Co. added 1.1 percent beating analyst expectations, as US customers snapped up smaller cars to offset high gas prices, Detroit News reported Thursday.
Chrysler Group LLC reported its US auto sales jumped 40 percent last month as the company’s car sales more than doubled. It was Chrysler’s best February in four years and its 23rd consecutive month of sales growth.
Chrysler brand sales soared 114 percent, with both the Chrysler 300 and 200 sedans posting triple-digit sales gains.
“Our product portfolio now contains some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in our company’s history, driving our sales up 40 percent in February,” Chrysler’s US sales chief Reid Bigland said.
Ford deliveries rose 14 percent to 178,644, with Focus sales more than doubled to 23,350, making it the best February for the Focus in 12 years.
“Sales momentum built as February unfolded, with higher fuel prices driving consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles in the second half of the month,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president for US marketing, sales and service.
GM’s February sales only increased 1.1 percent from a year earlier to 209,306, while analysts expected a decline based on GM’s cutback in sales incentives to increase profit margins.
