DETROIT — The American auto industry reported its best October sales in a decade on Tuesday, led by double-digit growth at all three Detroit carmakers.þþBut one automaker that did not benefit from strong consumer demand last month was Volkswagen, which had to take some diesel models off the market after it admitted to cheating on regulators’ emissions tests. Sales at VW were virtually flat.þþIndustry analysts projected that the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate would exceed 18 million vehicles for the second consecutive month as consumers continued to splurge on new pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.þþ“We’ve officially passed recovery mode and are now into record new-car sales,” said Karl Brauer, an analyst with the auto research firm Kelley Blue Book. “All the key factors, including pent-up demand, low interest rates, easy credit and cheap gas, were in place.”þþOver all, automakers said they sold 1.46 million vehicles during the month, which was a 13.6 percent increase over the 1.28 million sold in the same period a year ago, according to the market research firm Autodata Corporation. However, there was one additional selling day this October compared with last year.þþSome automakers said their sales for the month were the highest since October 2001, when the industry started zero-percent financing after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.þþGeneral Motors, the nation’s largest automaker, said it sold 263,000 vehicles during the month, a 15.9 percent increase from a year ago. The company said its performance was fed by strong demand for its pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, particularly newer models like the Chevrolet Colorado midsize truck.þþ“Our timing couldn’t be better with industry sales at record levels,” said Kurt McNeil, head of G.M.’s United States sales.þþNearly all of G.M.’s S.U.V.s posted gains during the month, which more than compensated for declines in compact cars like the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze.þþFord Motor, the second-largest American carmaker, said it sold 213,000 vehicles — in October, a 13.4 percent increase over a year ago. The company reported big gains in the heart of its S.U.V. lineup; sales of the Explorer were up 30 percent and sales of the Edge rose 39 percent.
Source: NY Times
