Chrysler posts most improved sales in 2011

DETROIT, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. automakers General Motors Co., Chrysler and Ford Motor Co. each posted annual sales gains in 2011, with the strongest gains at Chrysler, Autodata reported.

Chrysler, the smallest of the so-called Big Three, said sales rose 26.2 percent with sales of 1,085,211 vehicles. Sales at GM rose 13.2 percent year-to-year with a total of 2,211,091 vehicles sold, while Ford posted a gain of 11 percent with 1,931,534 vehicles sold.

Comparing December 2011 to December 2010, sales rose 37.1 percent at Chrysler, with 138,019 vehicles sold in the month, including 34,844 cars and 103,175 light trucks.

At Ford, sales rose 10.1 percent with 209,447 vehicles sold. At GM, sales rose 4.6 percent in December with 234,351 vehicles sold.

"It just brings a smile to my face because, as you recall, the president took some very bold action ... to ensure that the American automobile industry would survive and thrive," White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

Car companies "have demonstrated with these results the wisdom of the president's decision," he said.

Figures for Toyota, Honda and Nissan were not listed in the report. Volkswagen Group of America Inc. reported a sales increase of 23.3 percent from year-to-year and 31.3 percent comparing December 2011 to December 2010. Volkswagen Group of America sold 444,128 vehicles in 2011.

Hyundai Motor America reported 645,691 vehicles sold in the year, a 20 percent jump from 2010. Kia Motors America Inc. sold 442,102 vehicles in 2011.