Chrysler, GM, Nissan post big sales gains

Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images

A man opens the passnger door of a Jeep Wrangler on display at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. Chrysler's November sales rose 45 percent, helped by strong sales of its Jeep brand.

By Msnbc.com staff and wire

Chrysler, General Motors and Nissan reported big U.S. sales gains last month, a sign that people are finally starting to replace cars and trucks that they've held onto during the economic slump.

The results underscore projections that Americans bought new cars at the fastest pace in more than two years as they replace aging cars. Analysts expect that the annual sales rate for November could range between 13.3 million and 14 million cars and trucks. That is far better than the rate of 12.6 million through the first 10 months of the year.

November sales also could approach the 14.1 million annual rate from August of 2009, when the government offered big rebates for drivers to trade in their gas-guzzling clunkers.

10:42 a.m. EST: GM sales climbed 7 percent while Nissan's sales rose 19 percent, below Chrysler's 45 percent rise, but still strong.

Buyers snapped up GM's small cars and pickup trucks. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze compact rose 54 percent, while the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, GM's top-selling vehicle, saw sales jump 34 percent.

"We are seeing a broad spectrum of customers return to the market," said Don Johnson, GM's U.S. sales chief.

At Nissan, the tiny Versa led sales with a 38 percent increase, but SUV and truck sales also rose 32 percent.

8:30 a.m. EST: Chrysler's U.S. sales jumped 45 percent last month thanks to strong demand for the Jeep brand.

Chrysler sold 107,172 new cars and trucks last month compared with 74,152 a year earlier. Jeep sales rose 44 percent on strong demand for the Compass crossover and the Liberty small SUV.

Higher incentives in November also brought buyers into showrooms. TrueCar.com says Chrysler's incentives rose 6 percent from October to nearly $3,300 per vehicle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the numbers from GM and a company outlook, with Don Johnson, General Motors VP of U.S. sales.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9140673-chrysler-gm-nissan-post-big-sales-gains

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