US Auto Sales Show Promise in October: Toyota Only Major Automaker to Post a Decline

US auto sales moved higher in October as US consumers are beginning to show very modest interest in large purchases such as cars.

• Ford (NYSE: F) reported a 19.2% jump in vehicle sales over the month, attributing the strong number to sales of its newest vehicles. The automaker said it sold 157,935 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models last month and, on a year-to-date basis, has sold about 1.6 million units. The YTD number represents a 21% increase over the same period last year. Ford also said it remains on track to gain market share this year, the second consecutive year of market share gain -- a result not achieved since 1993.
  
• GM said auto sales during last month rose 3.5% to 183,543 vehicles. The company noted that the sale of pickups rose 8%, better than its overall sales figure, however below those of both Ford and Chrysler's pickups.
  
• Chrysler posted a sharp 37% rise in monthly sales; the automaker's total sales number came in at 90,137.
  
• Toyota (NYSE: TM) was the only major US automaker which to record a decline in US sales over October. The company said it sold 145,474 vehicles, down about 4% from the same month last year. On an adjusted basis, Toyota said sales fell about 0.9%.
  
• Honda (NYSE: HMC) saw US sales rise 19% over the month. Total units came in at 98,811 autos.
  
• Nissan (OTC: NSANY) recorded a 16.1% increase in sales during October. The automaker sold a total number of 69,773 Nissan autos.

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