Chrysler and General Motors reported that car sales jumped 19% this past September. Ford took a slight dip in sales at 2.7%. Ford reasoned that the decline was related to a planned hold on 2014 F-150 pickup production while it prepares to release its 2015 aluminum-bodied F-150.
Nissan also exceeded sales expectations, with sales that pulled past last year’s numbers by 18.5% to total 102,955. Honda posted a 12% increase from last year to 118,223. Honda’s premium brand, Acura, recorded an impressive 18.8% increase, but totaled only 13,832 additional sales over last year’s total. Toyota, when combined with sister brands Lexus and Scion, tallied a 1.7% upturn from last year to 167,279.
Several factors contributed to a sales jump for most car brands, including falling gas prices and a positive loan environment for prospective buyers. Chrysler has seen bigger sales numbers than other brands due in large part to its popular Ram pickup brand and their Jeep compact crossover, including the Jeep Compass and Patriot.
In a statement, Reid Bigland, Chrysler’s head of U.S. sales, said,
“Continued consumer demand for our new Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, our Jeep models and the Ram pickup truck helped Chrysler Group achieve a 19% sales increase in September and our 54th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth.”
Subaru and Audi have all enjoyed elevated sales from 2013. Subaru’s sales are up 31% from last years, thanks in large part to its rehashed Forrester crossover, with 12,584. The Outback wagon closely trailed the Forrester in sales with 11,315. Audi sales are up 14%. Audi’s new A3 model has earned 2,340 sales for September. Just over 1,000 Q3’s were sold within the same time frame.
Featured image: Chrysler
