Broadcasters can likely be assured with this good news, as higher sales usually lead to higher ad budgets—both national from the Detroit automakers and from their local dealers and associations as well. Detroit’s Big Three reported double-digit sales increases for December and the 2010 calendar year.
GM sales were up for 2010 — its first full year of sales since emerging from bankruptcy. For the 2010 calendar year, sales for its core brands were up 21% compared to 2009. In December GM saw a 16% sales bump compared with the same month a year ago. GM’s four brands sold 118,435 more vehicles in 2010, its first full year out of bankruptcy, than it did with eight brands in 2009, reported The Detroit News.
Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 1.1 million vehicles in 2010, up 17% compared to 2009. It also finished December with a 16% increase over 12/09. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Dodge Durango, helped add to the strong numbers at year’s end.
Ford also did well last year, selling 1.9 million vehicles up 19% from the prior year. Retail sales increased 17% in December compared to 12/09. Car retail sales were up 26% for the month, crediting mainly the subcompact Fiesta, compact Focus and midsize Fusion.
Toyota sales remained flat over 2009, and its December sales were down 5.5% from 12/09. For 2010, Nissan sold 908,570 cars and trucks, finishing 2010 with sales up 18% compared to 2009.
For FY, Honda sold 1.23 million cars and trucks in the US, an increase of 6.9% over 2009. December sales also were up for Honda, which reported a 25.5% gain in vehicle sales versus the same month in 2009.
