New York: US auto giants General Motors and Chrysler scored solid sales gains in September on robust demand for larger vehicles, but Ford sales slipped, according to figures released Wednesday.
Total US light-vehicles sales in September were 1.25 million, up 9.4 percent from the year-ago period, according to industry specialist AutoData.
General Motors, the largest US automaker, said sales rose 19 percent from a year ago to 223,437 vehicles, with strong gains in trucks and smaller crossovers. Big gains came in GMC sport utility vehicles and the Chevrolet Suburban SUV, among others.
"GM saw strength almost across the board in September" after introducing new trucks and SUVs "at exactly the right time," said Kurt McNeil, US vice president for sales operations at GM.
"We will have improved availability of heavy-duty pickups and large SUVs in the months ahead, and the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are arriving in showrooms as we speak. This sets us up to finish the year on a very strong note."
Chrysler, a unit of Italy-based Fiat Chrysler, also reported a 19 percent rise in sales, to 169,890 units, with big gains coming in its Jeep and Ram pickup truck divisions.
But Ford Motor said September sales fell three percent from a year ago to 180,175 vehicles. A key factor was lower sales to rental car companies, which were down 40 percent.
Edmunds.com analyst Jessica Caldwell said that Ford has been underrepresented in the truck market due to lower inventories ahead of upcoming launches.
"Ford has a truck problem right now, and that`s not something you can say very often," Caldwell said. "But the fact is that Ford is sitting on the sidelines while its competition is engaging a plush market of willing truck buyers.
"It`s creating a lot more pressure on the 2015 F-150 to perform -- and perform well -- once it hits showroom floors."
US sales of Japanese automaker Toyota rose 1.7 percent to 167,279 cars and trucks. SUVs and crossover vehicles "continue to be industry`s hot spots," said Bill Fay, Toyota group vice president.
Sales at Honda rose 12 percent to 118,223, while sales at Nissan jumped 18.5 percent to 102,955 vehicles.
Caldwell said the latest batch of sales are "consistent with the strength we`ve seen most of the year." The results have been bolstered by generous financing deals and record leasing, she added.
