Several automakers reported big sales gains in December, as heavy advertising and promotions brought people into showrooms toward the end of the month.

Ford Motor Co. and Subaru of America each reported that December sales rose 33 percent, and Hyundai sales rose by 40 percent.

But analysts noted that last month's data were compared with December 2008, the middle of one of the worst periods for auto sales in decades. And General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group saw sales decline last month.

Results for the full year were gloomy. Ford said that while sales of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles jumped to 179,017 in December, full-year sales fell 15 percent, to 1.62 million. GM and Chrysler reported annual sales dropped sharply.

In December, GM sold 208,511 vehicles, a 6 percent decline from the previous year. But the automaker attributed the dip to a corporate strategy to reduce sales to auto rental companies and its shuttering of the Pontiac and Saturn brands.
Most carmakers post gains in December - chicagotribune.com

Posted using ShareThis