Chrysler and General Motors recorded their best October sales numbers since the 2008 financial crisis as U.S. auto sales extended their steady gains Thursday despite taking a hit from Hurricane Sandy, according to an Agence France-Presse item, posted today by IndustryWeek.
The news report stated that total U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 6.9% from October 2011 and set an adjusted annualized pace of 14.3-million units, which was down from 14.9-million units in September, according to Autodata.
In addition, the report pointed out that “Ford Motor Co. estimates that the deadly [Sandy] storm prevented dealers across the industry from selling about 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles in the final days of the month and knocked about 300,000 units off the annualized pace.”
According to Agence France-Presse:
Chrysler's sales rose 10% to 126,185 vehicles and are up 23% to 1.4 million for the year to date.
Ford sales were up 0.4% at 168,456 vehicles in October and have climbed 5% for the year to date to 1.9-million vehicles.
GM posted its best October since 2007 as sales rose 5% to 195,764, pushing sales for the first 10 months of the year up 4% to 2.2-million vehicles.
Toyota said its sales rose 16% to 155,242 vehicles in October with sales up 30% for the year to date at 1.7-million vehicles.
Honda's sales rose 9% to 106,973 units and were up 23% for the year at 1.2 million.
Nissan sales fell 3% to 79,685 in October but are up 11% so far this year.
Hyundai's sales dropped 4% to 50,271 but increased 8.2% for the year.
Kia saw sales rise 13% to 42,452 and jump 18% for the year.