Automakers Report Strong April U.S. Sales

Ford and Fiat Chrysler each reported U.S. vehicle sales increases last month while General Motors' overall sales declined.

FCA, with a 6 percent increase compared to the same month last year, reported its best April since 2005. Its Jeep brand recorded its best April sales in history after a 17 percent increase, while Ram truck sales grew by 12 percent.

The Fiat and Chrysler brands, however, fell by 19 percent and 18 percent, respectively, while Dodge declined by 3 percent.

Ford sales increased by 4 percent compared to the previous April, led by a record month from the automaker's sport-utility vehicles. The Ford brand grew by more than 3 percent, while the Lincoln luxury line climbed by 20 percent.

Although GM sales fell by 4 percent, the company attributed the numbers to a planned decline in rental car sales and noted that retail deliveries grew by 3 percent last month. GM officials said May is expected to see the largest year-over-year decline in rental sales.

GMC sales remained largely flat, while Chevrolet and Buick declined by 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Cadillac sales, however, fell by 29 percent.

Among overseas automakers, Honda and Nissan each set April records after sales increases of 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Toyota sales, meanwhile, increased by 4 percent.

Those six companies comprised more than 75 percent of the U.S. auto market in March, according to numbers from The Wall Street Journal.

Despite the strong April numbers, Volkswagen sales continued to lag more than six months after its diesel emissions scandal came to light.

The German automaker's April sales were down by 10 percent; for the year to date, sales were off by nearly 12 percent compared to the first four months of 2015.