DETROIT, March 1 (UPI) -- General Motors reported a 3.7 percent gain in February U.S. sales Thursday, while Ford Motor sales fell 14 percent and Chrysler declined 8.3 percent.
Toyota Motor sales rose 12 percent, Honda Motor climbed 3.2 percent and Nissan Motor was up 1.2 percent.
GM's gain came as its sales to fleet customers such as car-rental companies fell 18 percent, the automaker said.
GM, Ford and Chrysler have said they intend to restore profitability in part by cutting discounted sales to fleet buyers and concentrate on higher-margin dealer sales.
GM said its fleet sales drop was offset by an 11 percent increase in dealer sales, bringing bringing car and light-truck sales to 308,411, up from 297,481 a year earlier.
Light-truck sales rose 7.9 percent, while car sales fell 3.3 percent, GM said.
Ford sold 211,150 light vehicles in February, down from 244,021 a year earlier.
DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group -- which includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands -- sold 174,506 vehicles, down from 190,367 a year earlier.
Toyota sold 187,330 vehicles in February, compared with 166,940 a year ago.
