The “Big Three” American automakers today reported double-digit sales increases of U.S. sales for August.
General Motors Co. said sales in August rose 15 percent, while Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC both reported 12 percent gains, as auto sales continued to gain ground.
“The second half of 2013 is off to a very solid start for GM and our model-year change over and new product launches are going smoothly,” said Kurt McNeil, GM vice president, U.S. sales operations. “We have a lot of momentum and we feel good about the direction of the U.S. economy as we prepare to launch even more new products,”
Every GM brand reported double-digit sales gains, with Cadillac up 38 percent, Buick up 37 percent, GMC up 14 percent and Chevrolet up 10 percent. It was GM’s strongest August sales report since 2008.
Ford said F-Series sales topped 70 percent for the second time this year. The last time F-Series had sales of more than 70,000 vehicles in two separate months in a calendar year was 2006. Fusion sales rose 22 percent to 71,115. Fusion sales totaled 24,653, the best August sales ever, with the strongest growth in the West, where Fusion retail sales gained 63 percent.
“Producing more Fusions at Flat Rock Assembly with its 1,400 new workers is a welcome opportunity, as Fusion showed great strength in August,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “Small cars and hybrids continue to outpace the market in the coastal regions of the U.S., with Ford brand retail small car sales growing at more than three times the rate of the U.S. small car industry.”
August was Ford’s best month for sales since 2006. Chrysler reported its best August sales since 2007.
