GM sales jump 12 percent in February

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:57 March 03 2010]
• Comments

General Motors Co. sales rose 12 percent last month compared to a year earlier, a rise fueled by stronger fleet, crossover and passenger car sales, the Detroit News reported on Tuesday.
  
The increase is the first in what could be a string of gains for automakers capitalizing on recall problems of Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. February vehicle sales are expected to rise by an estimated 9-14 percent, a smaller than expected increase in theUnited States due to a shortage of hot-selling models, snowstorms and Toyota's recall problems, according to industry forecasters.
  
Sales of GM's four core brands -- Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac -- rose 32 percent while sales of castoff brands Saturn, Hummer, Pontiac and Saab fell 86.1 percent.
  
"Although we've been operating as a new company with four brands for just seven months, our February results demonstrate that our long-term plan is already paying dividends," said Susan Docherty, GM's vice president of sales, service and marketing.
  
It is the fifth straight month of year-over-year sales increases for GM.
  
While GM retail sales, which don't include fleet sales, for thefour core brands rose 7 percent, retail sales overall were down 9 percent when factoring in the castoff brands.
  
Sales of GM's crossovers -- Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX -- rose 198 percent compared to prior models.