DETROIT (AP) — Ford, Chrysler and Nissan each reported an 11 percent increase in sales for last month, a sign that U.S. auto sales will remain strong into the second half of the year.
Chrysler, based in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler said it sold just over 140,000 cars and trucks last month, led by gains in pickup truck and SUV sales. It was Chrysler's best July since 2006.
Ford sold nearly 194,000 vehicles, led by the F-Series pickup truck, with sales up 23 percent. One in three vehicles sold by Ford last month was a pickup. But the company was helped by the other end of its model lineup, too. Sales of the Fiesta subcompact rose 89 percent.
At Nissan, sales rose to just over 109,000, a July record for the company. Sales of the Altima midsize car rose 11 percent, and sales of the redesigned Pathfinder SUV more than tripled.
Of automakers reporting early Thursday, only Volkswagen had a down month. Its sales were off 3.3 percent as the top-selling Jetta compact faltered. Jetta sales dropped 1.8 percent.
