Consumers flocked to dealer showrooms last month, throwing off higher gasoline prices and worries about the economy, as Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. each reported double-digit sales gains in August from a year earlier.
The solid showing by the Detroit Three lifts hope August could be one of strongest sales months of the year, especially since many Japanese auto makers are expected to post big volume gains. A year ago sales of Japanese cars were depressed because of shortages stemming from the March 2011 earthquake that disrupted production.
General Motors’ U.S. auto sales rose 10%, Chrysler’s rose 14%, and Ford’s results improved 13%. Toyota Motor Corp.’s U.S. auto sales climbed 46% and Honda Motor Co. posted a 60% gain, both from year-ago weakness.