GM crossovers, such as the Chevrolet Equinox, collectively posted a 30% sales gain.
While most major makers have yet to report, it appears June was a big month for the U.S. auto industry, suggesting that fears of a new market slump haven’t materialized despite the weak overall economy.
Bouncing back from the production cuts that followed last year’s devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Toyota reports June 2012 sales jumped 60.3% over year-earlier levels. Asian rival Nissan – which was less impacted by the disaster – saw volumes jump 28.2% overall, with its Infiniti luxury brand gaining 66.1%.
Chrysler, meanwhile, saw June sales surge to their highest levels in five years, while GM is reporting its best numbers for any month since September 2008.
“Across the board, June was a strong month for GM,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president for U.S. sales, who suggested that new products, increased credit availability and falling fuel prices were “a stronger influence on consumer behavio0r than economic and political uncertainty.
Japanese makers were expected to see a sharp rise for June as the year-over-year figures will be compared with a period when most of their home market plants were shuttered due to parts shortages and even facilities in the U.S., such as the Toyota Camry plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, were forced to operate well below capacity.
But domestic makers – while apparently giving up some share to the Japanese – also delivered some solid sales numbers.
Chrysler Group LLC sales surged by 20% last month as the automaker posted its 27th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and ended the second-quarter with a 24% increase versus the same period last year.
“June was another solid month for the Chrysler Group,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. “Continuous improvement remains a key focus at Chrysler as we have steadily increased sales, improved quality, added production and created jobs.”
GM, meanwhile, gained 16% overall, and notably saw gains among car and truck products – though crossovers like the Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox posted the biggest gains, 30% collectively.
Paul A. Eisenstein contributed to this report.