WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is an initial summary of the April
U.S. sales performance of select auto manufacturers announced Tuesday:
* General Motors dealers in the United States reported 232,538
total sales in April, a 27% increase versus April a year ago. Solid
gains by GM’s lineup of fuel-efficient passenger cars and crossovers
powered the gains. Total sales of GM passenger cars improved 50% during
April, led by the sale of 25,160 Cruzes and 24,701 Chevrolet Malibus.
Retail sales of GM passenger cars climbed 49% for the month. For the
year-to-date, retail sales for GM’s full-size pickups are up 26%, while
total sales of 172,070 units represent a 22% increase. GM said month-end
dealer inventory in the United States stood at about 577,000 units, up
about 3,000 units compared to March and about 149,000 higher than April
2010.
* Ford Tuesday reported that its April sales were 189,778, up
16% versus a year ago. Retail sales were up 10% and fleet sales were up
31% (commercial was up 33%, government grew 10%, and daily rental
increased 39%). Year-to-date, total sales were 686,498, up 16%. Retail
sales were up 17% and fleet sales were up 14% (commercial was up 33%,
government grew 11%, and daily rental increased 2%).
* Nissan North America Tuesday reported April U.S. sales of
71,526 units versus 63,769 units a year earlier, an increase of 12.2%.
Nissan Division sales were up 14.5% for the month at 64,765 units. Sales
of Infiniti vehicles decreased 6.2% from the prior year, to 6,761 units.
For 2011, Nissan North America sales have increased 22.2% to 356,884
units. Nissan Division deliveries are up 23.4% to 322,287. Infiniti
sales have increased 11.9% to 34,597 units.
* Hyundai Motor America Tuesday announced all-time record April
sales of 61,754 units, up 40% compared with the same record-breaking
period last year. For the year, total sales are up 31%, with retail
volume rising 40%. Sales to fleet accounts are down 45% for the year
with fleet representing 13% of the total sales mix year-to-date and 11
percent for April.
* Porsche Cars North America Tuesday announced April sales in
the U.S. of 3,172 vehicles compared to the same period last year when it
sold 1,747, an increase of 82%. The German sports car maker said April’s
result represent the best April since 2006 and best sales month since
March 2007. So far in 2011, the company’s sales are 10,179 vehicles,
compared to the same four month period last year when they were 6,969,
which represents a 46% increase year-to-date.
* Kia Motors America Tuesday announced all-time record monthly
sales of 47,074, a 56.7% increase from April 2010, and a 6.6% increase
over the previous record set last month.
* Volkswagen of America Tuesday reported 28,542 units sold in
April 2011, a 23% increase over prior year sales and the company’s best
sales month since November 2003. Year-to-date sales are up 17%.
* The BMW Group in the U.S. reported April sales of 25,247
vehicles, an increase of 19.6% from the 21,111 vehicles sold in the same
month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 18.4% on sales of 90,204
in the first four months of 2011 compared to 76,162 in the same period
in 2010.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]