Chrysler leads US auto sales rise

(AFP PHOTO/Stan Honda)

US auto sales posted the biggest gain of 2010 in September, official data has shown.

In total, US car sales climbed 29 percent year-on-year, with all but one automaker (Suzuki) posting a sales rise.

A reinvigorated Chrysler led the gains with a stunning 61 percent increase, the sixth consecutive month of increases for the brand and the second month of the year that it has sold over 100,000 vehicles.

The all new Jeep Grand Cherokee sold almost 100 percent more cars than last month, said the automaker.

Chrysler's success allowed it to leapfrog Honda to become the US's fourth most popular automaker in September.

Ford posted an increase of 40 percent, with the brand pointing at the popularity of new products such as the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and Ford Fiesta as key to the sales increase.

General Motors was up 22 percent according to figures from Automotive News, led also by new model year vehicles - 53 percent of retail sales for the month for 2011 model year vehicles, said the automaker.

Toyota, the third most popular automaker in the US, posted a 17 percent jump in sales.

The figures are seen as something as a relief given the 21 percent drop in August sales, although experts warned that just as August's sales figures were distorted because of the incentive-fuelled August 2009, September's sales are in comparison to a weak September 2009.

The most popular automakers in the US - September 2010

1. General Motors
2. Ford
3. Toyota
4. Chrysler
5. Honda (American)
6. Hyundai

Data from Monthly US Sales Report by Automotive News/Manufacturers
Website: http://www.autonews.com/