Domestic Auto Sales Rise 6.3%

Led by a generous jump in purchases of Ford Motor Co. vehicles, sales of domestic cars and light trucks rose 6.3% in early March from a year ago, auto makers reported today.

Industry leader General Motors Corp., however, did not share the strong increases enjoyed by No. 2 Ford and Chrysler Corp. Despite sales incentives, GM’s domestic car sales fell 13% from early March a year ago, and its light truck sales dropped 1.5%. Ford’s car sales jumped 21.4% to 68,859, and its light truck sales rose 18.1%. Sales of Chrysler cars rose 18.3% to 34,667 from 26,046 a year ago. Sales of Chrysler domestic light trucks jumped 24.1% to 25,287. The eight companies that build cars and trucks in the United States sold 328,437 in the nine selling days from March 1-10, up from 274,626 in eight days a year ago.