Five of six automakers report weak sales

DETROIT, May 1 (UPI) -- Auto sales in the United States remained on the skids in April, led by Toyota Motor Corp.'s 41.9 percent decline, automakers' reports showed.

General Motors Corp. said its U.S. sales dropped 33.7 percent last month compared to a year ago, the Detroit Free Press reported Friday. GM dealers sold 173,0007 vehicles in April, and the automaker said it saw total volume increase 11 percent between March and April, propelled by a return to more normal fleet sales.

Besides GM and Toyota, Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. -- five of the six largest automakers that reported U.S. sales Friday -- all reported declines in April compared with a year ago, the Detroit News said.

Ford said its domestic brands sold a total of 129,898 vehicles, down 31 percent. The Dearborn, Mich., automaker said it gained retail market share for the sixth time in seven months.

Nissan reported a decrease of 37.8 percent while Honda said it experienced a 25.3 percent drop.