Automakers Ford, Chrysler and General Motors (GM) have all reported outbreaks in two digits for the month of January, evidence that the favorable circumstances of 2012 will continue this year in the United States.
At Ford, sales rose by 22% compared to the same period last year, while GM and Ford have both reported increases of 16%. Chrysler had its best sales in five years during the month of January.
On the European side, Volkswagen has reported a sales increase of 7 percent, a figure somewhat disappointing given the 31 percent increase recorded by the German manufacturer in 2012.
Toyota sales were up 27 percent.
It seems that many Americans have purchased vehicles last month. The automotive industry remains active despite a rather slow economic recovery in the United States.Chrysler expects that total sales in the United States reached an annual rate of 15.5 million in January. If this trend continues over the years, automakers have sold 1 million units more than last year, when sales rose 13 percent.
Analysts predict that sales reach 15 to 15.5 million in 2013. Still below the peak of 17 million recorded in 2005, the industry could sell at least 5 million more cars and trucks in comparison to 2009, the worst year in the last three decades in car sales.
At Ford, the increase in sales is due in part to the Fusion model, whose sales rose 65 percent.
Photo: Chevrolet