NEW YORK: US auto sales pulled away from a weak start to the year in April, with analysts forecasting a historically stong month and a record-shattering 2016.
Solid job growth, low gasoline prices and easy credit lured shoppers to showrooms as spring weather got underway, a harbinger of the summer vacation driving season ahead.
Though gasoline prices ticked a bit higher last month, they remain well below the year-ago level, continuing to drive interest in fuel-guzzling pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
After a lackluster March for auto sales, April would bring a rebound, said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com director of industry analysis, before the Tuesday data was released.
"Considering that April is typically the calm before the storm of summer sales, there's every reason to believe that 2016 will be a year for the history books," she said.
General Motors, the largest US automaker, reported Tuesday sales of 259,557 vehicles, down 3.5 percent from a year ago, due to a retreat in less-profitable fleet sales.
GM is focused on growing its retail sales, which rose three percent year-over-year in April in part lifted by sales of the Chevrolet brand that had its best April since 2006.
Overall, GM retail sales were up nine percent over the past 12 months, more than double the industry's four percent gain.
"GM's retail growth over the last 12 months has outpaced the industry by a wide margin because our redesigned large pickups and SUVs are hits, we made smart investments in new segments like small crossovers and mid-size pickups, and our momentum in the car business is accelerating with each new model introduction," said Kurt McNeil, US vice president of sales operations.
Ford Motor, the number-two US automaker, reported a total of 231,316 vehicle sales in April, a four percent increase from April 2015.
It was Ford's best April in 10 years. Driving the gain was a 22 percent jump in Explorer SUV sales from a year ago. Ford brand SUVs had record sales for the month.
Sales of the F-series of Ford's F-150 pickup truck climbed 13 percent, their best performance in 11 years.
"We saw strong consumer demand in April, especially for pickups," said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president for US marketing, sales and service.
- Jeeps, Ram trucks surge -
Italian-owned Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported sales of 199,631 vehicles, a six percent rise from April 2015 and its best April sales in 11 years.
Jeep brand sales continued their record-breaking streak since November 2013, FCA said. Sales advanced 17 percent to 84,298 vehicles, the best April performance yet.
Ram brand trucks, with their high profit margins, racked up a 12 percent sales gain, their best April since 2005.
Sales of Chrysler brand Town & Country minivan leaped 82 percent from a year ago. On the downside, Fiat brand sales tumbled 19 percent.
According to media reports, FCA and Google plan to develop self-driving prototypes based on the new Pacifica minivan.
Automakers' sales data will be released throughout the day. So far, sales results have exceeded estimates by Edmunds.com, with the exception of GM, where the decline of 3.5 percent was steeper than the 2.3 percent expected.
Total industry sales were forecast to show a 4.3 percent year-over-year rise, the best April performance since 2005, according to Edmunds.com.
The industry specialist said that "2016 is on track to shatter last year's full-year record of 17.5 million sales."
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