Car makers report strong US sales for July - MarketWatch
Several top auto makers on Monday reported their strongest July for U. S. sales in years, with demand for SUVs and trucks continuing to drive growth. Ford Motor Co. reported a 4. 9% increase in sales to 222,731 vehicles, marking its best July since 2006. General Motors Co. 's sales grew 6. 4% to 272,512 vehicles--its best since 2007. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's U. S. auto sales rose 6. 2%,... auto sales have been pushing higher, helped by continued demand for SUVs and trucks. Automotive information provider Kelley Blue Book said transaction prices of new light vehicles in July rose 2. 6% from a year earlier to $33,453. Ford's 4. 9% sales growth easily topped the 2% growth Edmunds. For its F-series, which includes the revamped F-150, sales grew 4. 8% to 66,288 vehicles. Mustang sales were up 29% in July, while Explorer sales grew 27%. In all, sales of utilities jumped 13%, while truck sales grew 5. 7%. Car sales fell 3. 9%. At GM, a 24% increase in Chevrolet pickup, van and SUV sales helped the brand deliver its... For Fiat Chrysler's Jeep brand, sales grew 23% to 73,216 vehicles, driven by double-digit increases in Patriot, Wrangler and Cherokee sales. Chrysler sales jumped 10%, boosted by sales of the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, which grew 85% over the prior. Source: www.marketwatch.com
