/ Source: Reuters
Detroit automakers sold more cars and trucks in November than analysts expected, as a growing economy and falling fuel prices helped drive sales of big pickups and SUVs.
- General Motors said November sales rose 6.5 percent to 225,818, topping the average 217,462 projected by auto analysts. Sales of GM's Chevrolet Silverado pickup climbed nearly 25 percent.
- Chrysler Group sales rose 20.1 percent to 170,839, on strong showings by its Jeep brand and Ram pickup trucks, the unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Tuesday. Analysts had expected 142,275.
- Ford Motor Co reported a slight decline in sales, to 186,334, about what analysts had expected. Sales of the best-selling F-150 pickup were down 10 percent, as the automaker began the changeover to the redesigned 2015 model.
A strong showing on Black Friday last week is seen pushing U.S. auto industry sales in November up 2.3 percent to about 1.27 million vehicles, the highest since the 2008 recession, according to a survey of 11 analysts by Reuters. A Thomson Reuters survey of 41 industry economists and analysts showed expectations of 16.7 million vehicles sold on an annualized basis, with a high forecast of 17 million vehicles on an annualized basis.
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-- Reuters