CHICAGO: US auto sales accelerated in June with General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota posting strong gains as analysts forecast more growth in the months to come.
Toyota led the pack with a 14 percent gain to 195,235 vehicles in June. Sales for the first half of the year were up six percent at 1.1 million vehicles.
“The auto industry led the economic recovery through the first half of 2013, kicking off a strong summer selling season, which we expect will carry into the second half of the year,” said Bill Fay, general manager of the Japanese automaker’s Toyota division.
“Sales in June were solid, and demand didn’t skip a beat.”
The gains came as Toyota celebrated selling its 10 millionth Camry, which has held the crown for the top-selling car in the Unites States for the past 11 years.
Ford’s sales climbed 13 percent to 235,643 vehicles in its best June performance since 2006. Sales for the first half of the year were also up 13 percent at 1.3 million vehicles.
“In June, we continued to see strong demand across the entire lineup,” said Ken Czubay, Ford’s sales chief.
“We’re particularly encouraged by strong retail share gains, especially in coastal markets, where the combination of great design and fuel economy is resonating with customers — including many buying a Ford for the first time.”
Chrysler’s sales rose eight percent to 156,686 vehicles in the company’s best June in six years. Sales for the first half of the year were up nine percent at 908,332.
“The fundamentals for continued industry gains in new vehicle sales remain intact,” Reid Bigland, Chrysler’s sales chief, said in a statement.
GM’s sales increased six percent to 264,843 in June and were up eight percent for the first half of the year at 1.4 million vehicles.
“We have good momentum heading into the second half of 2013: the economic outlook is solid and our launch vehicles are performing well in the marketplace,” GM sales Kurt McNeil said in a statement.
Automotive website Edmunds.com forecast that total industry sales will rise 6.3 percent in June and come in at an adjusted, annualized rate of 15.5 million vehicles once all automakers have reported.
“Within the last month we saw a slowing stock market and a stalled unemployment recovery, but the automotive market continues to shine through it all,” said Edmunds analyst Jessica Caldwell.
“The first half of 2013 was every bit as strong as the auto industry could expect at the beginning of the year, and there’s no reason why the next six months can’t maintain the same momentum.”
Kelly Blue Book’s forecast was in line with Edmunds as it predicted the June sales pace would be the industry’s strongest monthly performance since November 2012.
“We’ve had a strong first half of the year with new-car sales up nearly 7 percent compared to the first half of last year,” said Kelly Blue Book analyst Alec Gutierrez.
“The industry continues to benefit from modest improvements in housing, unemployment and consumer confidence.”
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