Ford, GM see sales up in February

DETROIT, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford said sales rose 43 percent in February compared to a year ago, as its vehicles outsold rival General Motors Co. in the month.

GM said its sales rose 12 percent from a year ago with 141,951 vehicles sold. Ford sold 142,285 vehicles, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Ford said February car sales rose 54 percent, SUV sales 39 percent and truck sales 36 percent compared with a year ago.

With Toyota Motor Corp. reeling from recalls affecting 6 million vehicles in the United States and GM less than a year away from its bankruptcy proceeding, Ford added 3 percentage points to its market share in February compared to the same month last year.

Ford's market share rose to 17 percent.

"The good news is we have even more new products and fuel-efficient powertrains coming this year, and we expect our progress to continue," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing sales and service.

GM's vice president of sales, service and marketing Susan Docherty said she was not dismayed.

"We've been operating as a new company with four brands for just seven months. Our February results demonstrate that our long-term plan is already paying dividends," she said.