Light vehicle sales increase in July - RubberNews.com

-- ArtID: 150809987 ArtByline: Automotive News Report ArtCategory: NEWS ArtCategoryName: News ArtTitle: Light vehicle sales increase in July ArtMainPhoto: ArtSummary: DETROIT—U. light vehicle sales, fueled by healthy truck demand and gains at most major auto makers, increased 5. 3 percent in July, helping the industry begin the second half of 2015 on a strong note. Light trucks set the pace, rising 11 percent last month, while car demand slipped 1. 8 percent. Ford Motor Co. , Nissan Motor Co. , Honda Motor Co. , General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Hyundai-Kia all had gains between 5 percent and 8 percent while Subaru scored its sixth double-digit advance of the year. Summer deals, pent-up demand, falling gasoline prices, low interest rates and steady employment gains continue to outweigh sluggish consumer spending and weak wage growth to spur higher new-vehicle demand. “Industry performance should stay strong throughout 2015. ”. With a 5 percent increase, Ford more than doubled the pace of its first-half advance. FCA US ended its streak of monthly sales gains to 64. “The second half of 2015 is off to a great start, with industry sales above expectations,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U. S. vice president of sales operations. Auto maker by auto maker. Source: www.rubbernews.com