DETROIT — Automakers on Tuesday reported strong U.S. sales in December, indicating that 2015 would smash records, and most forecasters said the new year will be even better.þþFor full year 2015, General Motors Co said industry sales will top the previous record of 17.35 million vehicles in 2000 as low gasoline prices, easy credit and moderate economic growth boosted the industry.þþGM said December sales will end at 17.8 million vehicles on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis. In a Thomson Reuters poll, 38 economists and analysts forecast December sales at 18.1 million vehicles.þþ“The U.S. economy continues to expand and the most important factors that drive demand for new vehicles are in place, so we expect to see a second consecutive year of record industry sales in 2016,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist.þþMohatarem said the most important factors are employment and growth in personal income, which will remain strong this year.þþGM, the top seller in the United States, said its monthly sales rose 5.7 percent from a year ago, and Ford Motor Co, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, reported a jump of 8 percent.þþToyota Motor Corp, third in U.S. sales, had a gain of 11 percent.þþFiat Chrysler Automobiles and Nissan Motor Co Ltd posted double-digit U.S. sales gains in December, Fiat Chrysler up 13 percent and Nissan up 19 percent.þþFiat Chrysler is the No. 4 seller of vehicles in the U.S. market, and Nissan is sixth.þþWhile December sales are likely not to meet expectations, the forecast is for double-digit gains over a year earlier as well as the most vehicles sold in the U.S. market for any December.þþSeveral forecasters, including TrueCar Inc, said 2016 sales will reach 18 million vehicles. Slightly higher interest rates will not significantly affect auto deliveries, said Eric Lyman, TrueCar vice president.þþGM said total 2015 sales will be 17.5 million vehicles, matching several forecasts from analysts last week.þþThe industry has steadily recovered since the 2008-2009 downturn. In 2009, sales hit 10.4 million vehicles, which was the lowest level, when adjusted for population, since World War Two.þþGM shares were down 2.9 percent at $32.35 while Ford's shares were down 2.4 percent at $13.63. The S&P 500 was slightly lower.
Source: NY Times
