BizNomic

March U.S. sales documented 21% rise for General Motors Co and 40 % rise for Ford Motors Co. trailing analysts’ estimates for a month when incentives helped lure buyers to showrooms.

GM grabbed the top spot in the US in February for the first time since 1988, with 188,456 deliveries; while Ford sales climbed to 183,783 (from 156,380 a year earlier), Dearborn, Michigan-based company said. The Detroit-based automaker is finishing the disposal of half of its eight U.S. vehicle lines under a plan to return to profit after a government-backed bankruptcy. GM retained the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC brands as part of the government-backed bankruptcy, and is selling or closing Saab, Hummer, Saturn and Pontiac, whose sales plummeted 88 percent in March.

The sales figures for Ford include the company’s Volvo brand, which declined 17.6 percent from March 2009. Sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles increased 43 percent during the same period. The sales gains were led by the Fusion sedan. Ford sold 22,773 units in March, compared with 12,773 units a year earlier. The Focus compact car also fared well in March. Ford sold 19,500 units in March, compared with 12,383 units in March 2009. Sales of the Taurus sedan increased to 7,001 units in March from 3,758 a year earlier, and sales of the Mustang sports car increased to 5,829 units from 3,711 units a year earlier. Ford also experienced increases in its crossover and sport utility vehicles segments. Ford sold 19,182 Escape compact SUVs in March, compared with 12,580 units in March 2009. The automaker sold 10,254 units of its Edge crossover, compared with 6,134 units a year earlier.

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