GM U.S. Sales Top Estimates Amid Strong Demand for Light Trucks
Low Gas Prices Boost SUV and Truck Sales
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Automakers reported the best April sales in a decade even as some of them missed analysts’ estimates. The good news is that highly profitable pickups and sport utility vehicles remain popular with shoppers.
Deliveries of cars and light trucks last month rose 4.6 percent to 1.45 million, according to Autodata Corp. While that’s the most since 2005, it was also less than the 1.47 million estimated by analysts. The annualized selling rate, adjusted for seasonal trends, rose to 16.5 million from 16.1 million a year earlier, the researcher said in an e-mail. The average estimate was for a 16.7 million pace.