Detroit's Big Three - General Motors Co. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F) and Chrysler Group LLC - on Wednesday reported double digit growths in U.S. vehicle sales for the month of April, as a recovery in the housing and construction markets boosted demand for trucks and SUVs and customers rushed to buy new, fuel effiicient cars. However, Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) reported a 1.1% decline in April U.S. vehicle sales. GM, the largest U.S. automaker, said that its April U.S. sales rose 11.4% to 237,646 vehicles from 213,387 vehicles in the same month last year. GM had its best March sales in five years.
There were 25 selling days for April 2013, compared to 24 for last year.
GM's retail sales increased 10%, while fleet sales were up 16% for the month.
For April, GM's passenger car sales grew 6%, while truck sales surged 17% and crossovers sales rose 14% from a year earlier.
Among GM's brands, Chevrolet sales rose 10.9% to 172,460 units, while GMC sales grew 6.7% to 34,799 units, Cardillac sales surged 34.3% to 13,230 units and Buick sales climbed 11.1% to 17,157 units.
"Car-buying conditions are strong and will continue to release pent-up demand," said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. "We're very optimistic because GM's market share is growing, the economy continues to move forward and important car and truck launches are just getting underway."
Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford, the second largest U.S. automaker, said it sold 212,564 vehicles in the U.S. in April, up 17.9% from 180,350 vehicles sold in the same month last year. This marks Ford's best April sales since 2007. For March, Ford had reported a 5.7% rise in U.S. vehicles sales.
Ford's car sales surged 21.2% year-over-year to 78,513 units in April, while truck sales for the month increased 15.6% to 74,982 units and utility vehicle sales rose 16.5% to 59,089 units.
"We are working harder than ever to keep pace with record demand for our all-new, fuel-efficient Fusion and Escape - with sales growth particularly strong on the coasts," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. "F-Series pickups also continue to build on their momentum as the housing and construction industries rebound."
April sales of the company's small, fuel-efficient cars Ford Fusion and Ford Focus rose 23.7% and 16.1%, respectively, from a year earlier.
Among utilities, Escape sales jumped 52.0% to 25,826 vehicles, its strongest April sales since its launch 13 years ago.
Sales of Ford's F-Series truck, America's best-selling truck for 36 years in a row and America's best-selling vehicle, car or truck, for 31 straight years, rose 24.4% to 59,030 units in April, its 21st straight month of sales increases.
Ford was less ravaged by the recession than most of its peers. The company also did not have to restructure with federal assistance. The automaker has reported a profit for each of its last fifteen quarters. The company has also reinstated its quarterly stock dividend.
Chrysler Group LLC, majority-owned by Italian carmaker Fiat SpA (FIATY.PK), reported April U.S. sales of 156,698 vehicles, an 11% increase from 141,165 vehicles in the same month last year.
This marks the 37th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains for Chrysler, and its best April sales since 2007.
The Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in April. Total truck sales were up 14%, and total car sales were up 5%.
Ram Truck brand sales were up 49%, the largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April. Dodge brand sales were up 18%, and Jeep brand sales rose 2%.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., a division of Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), reported April sales of 176,160 units, down 1.1% from a year earlier.
Among other automakers reporting U.S. vehicle sales Wednesday, Nissan North America Inc., a unit of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NSANY.PK), reported April U.S. sales of 87,847 vehicles, an increase of 23.2% from 71,329 vehicles sold in the same period last year. Nissan Division sales grew 24.6%, while Infiniti sales improved 10%.
GM shares are currently trading at $30.54, down 29 cents, while Ford shares are currently trading at $13.51, down 10 cents.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.