G.M. Auto Sales Rose 16.6% in May

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/business/03auto.html

DETROIT — May was another positive step for the auto industry, with all major carmakers expected to report that sales in the United States increased from a year earlier, but most dealerships still have relatively few shoppers as the market’s recovery remains slow.
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General Motors said sales by its four active brands rose 31.8 percent and that total sales for the company, including the brands it has discontinued, were up 16.6 percent. May was the eighth consecutive month that sales of the four brands, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC, have increased.

“Each of our brands has new products that are being received well by customers,” Steve Carlisle, G.M.’s vice president of United States sales operations, said in a statement. “In fact, these new vehicles now account for about one in every four retail sales in the U.S. With each brand launching new vehicles in the next few months, we are optimistic about the remainder of the year.”

Year to date, sales of G.M.’s remaining brands are up by 206,994 units, which is nearly twice as many sales as the company lost by shutting down Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn and selling Saab. Newly introduced vehicles account for much of that growth.

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