Chrysler, Honda, GM Post Strong April Car Sales

05/03/96

Reuters reported that Chrysler, Honda, and GM have all posted strong passenger car sales for the Month of April. Car sales have boosted overall vehicle sales.

GM sold 441,254 cars and trucks last month, a 7.7% increase. Car sales went up 12% over all (270,752 units) while truck sales rose only 1.3% (170,502 units).

Chrysler sold 230,469 vehicles in April, up about 38% over sales in April 1995. Chrysler's light truck sales rose 40% to 148,768, the highest they have been for any month. Their minivan sales rose 41% to 50,668. North American built car sales at Chrysler jumped 24% to 81,163 units. Large consumer rebates helped build the carmaker's sales substantially and were offered on all of the 23,255 Neons they sold as well as on Cirrus, Stratus, and Breeze models, which made up another 21,201 sales.

Honda reported near record sales, mostly because of Civic, Accord, and Odyssey sales. Civic sales rose 18.7% to 33,585; Accord sales rose 26% to 33,585; and Oddysey sales rose 56% to 3,153.

Toyota's car sales in the states dropped 9.5% overall to 60,910, even though sales of Toyotas produced in the U.S. were up 6 percent (44,364). Toyota's strong seller was their RAV4 4Runner which sold 15,463 units (up 158%).

Nissan said their April sales rose 27% to 57,105. North American produced Nissan sales rose 44% to 25,341 units.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel