Aftermarket Leads » New designs, small cars fuel April sales:

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Chevy sold 10,852 copies of the Camaro in April, outpacing the Ford Mustang by 2,672 cars.

By DALE JEWETT AND MICHELLE KOUEITER
on 5/03/2011

Redesigned vehicles, particularly little cars, helped drive similar minute for the auto ,manufacturing in April, as customers shifted gears in the face of increasing gasoline prices.

U.S. vehicle similar totaled 1.15 compensation units in April, up 18 proportion as of April 2010. For the day to date, similar of 4.12 compensation unitsis up 20 percent.

But April might be as high-quality as it gets. Gas management demonstrate no symbol of investment steady or declining, and traditionally go up by means of the arrival of the summer heavy season.

Also, the majority automakers"and Japanese automakers in particular"face ongoing manufactured goods shortages as lesser makers manage by means of factories damaged by the Japanese earthquake in close to the beginning March.

The slow revival is forcing Japanese automakers to idle completely meeting lines or run not any at grainy speed. Dealers are prevented as of ordering a number of colors, and a lot of Japanese-brand dealers face limits on ordering cars for more supposed a few months to come.

Ford Motor Co., construct posted a 16-percent increase for April, supposed the Fiesta and Focus sold well, as did the redesigned Explorer, construct name additional fuel-efficient V6 engines.

Also, 50 proportion of the Ford F-150s sold in April now ready by means of a V6, in its place of the customary V8.

Ford Motor similar totaled 189,778 vehicles in April.

General Motors recorded a 27-percent similar increase in April, counting a 50-percent bound in demand for cars, counting the new Chevrolet Cruze. Other big sellers now the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers.

GM supposed its April similar totaled 232,538 vehicles. It noted so as to sell similar are up 35 proportion so far petroleum year.

And in the pony-car battle, the Chevy Camaro series to outpace the Ford Mustang. Chevy sold 10,852 Camaros in April, up 18.6 proportion as of a day ago, as,at the same time as Ford sold 8,180 Mustangs, up 59 percent. For the day to date, the Camaro the distance end to end of the Mustang, 30,824 to 23,599.

The Chrysler group, on the additional hand, saw physically powerful similar for its trucks and SUVs, in spite of senior petroleum costs. It noted so as to Jeep similar rose 65 proportion in April, by means of the redesigned 2011 Compass and Grand Cherokee in the center of the the majority excellent sellers. But it too lacks a contestant in the small-car segment. Copies of the Fiat 500 are motionless now trickling eager on dealerships.

Overall, similar now up 22 percent, to 117,225 vehicles for the Chrysler collection in April, better by means of the similar month a day ago. Year-to-date similar are up 23 percent, to 404,175 units sold.

Among the Japanese automakers:

" Nissan supposed joint similar of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles rose 12 proportion in April. Nissan sold 8,432 copies of the Rogue, up 28.1 proportion as of previous year. Sentra similar greater supposed before 42.2 percent, by means of 9,367 copies sold.

" Combined Honda and Acura similar now up 10 proportion for the month. It notched a 66-percent bound in similar of the Fit little car, and a 3-percent increase in Civic sales.

" Sales of Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles rose a joint 1 proportion in April. Toyota saw similar minute for the Toyota Camry and Scion xB, as healthy as the Toyota Highlander and Sienna populace carriers.

Among the European automakers:

" BMW posted a 20-percent increase in April. Minis April similar of 6,446 units now up 67.7 proportion as of a day ago. That built-in 1,709 units of the Countryman crossover.

" The Volkswagen group, construct luckily Audi, boosted similar 20 proportion in April. Audi posted its best-ever April sales, and VW notched double-digit minute in each replica row except the New Beetle and Eos.

" Mercedes-Benz posted a 4-percent similar gain, propelled by the redesigned E-class and efficient C-class cars.

And in the electric arena, Nissan sold 573 Leaf EVs in April, additional supposed doubling its year-to-date total. Chevrolet sold 493 copies of the Volt in April. For the day to date, Volt similar contain totaled 1,703 units.