Mid-April sales of U.S.-made cars and light...

Mid-April sales of U.S.-made cars and light trucks rose slightly from last year, with Chrysler posting a 21.4% increase over a soft year-earlier performance, auto makers reported. By contrast, car sales were off 4.4% at General Motors and 2.6% at Ford from strong mid-April, 1987, selling periods. Sales of all U.S.-made cars and light trucks totaled 353,314 from April 11 to April 20, up 1.9% from 308,240 a year earlier. There were eight sales days in the period this year and nine last year. The percentage changes compare average daily sales, not straight totals. Although its sales were slower than in mid-April, 1987, GM remained by far the leader with total car sales of 112,344, compared to Ford’s 66,626 and Chrysler’s 33,842. Sales of domestic light trucks totaled 124,323 for the period, up from 107,099, a 3.2% increase in daily sales. Among foreign manufacturers making cars in U.S. plants, American Honda, which moved more production to the United States, sold 10,738 of its U.S.-made cars in the period, up from 6,488 a year earlier.

AUTO SALES Percentage changes in auto sales for the second 10 days of April are based on daily rates rather than total sales volume. There were nine selling days in the current period and eight in the year-ago period.

April % 10-Day 1988 change GM 112,414 -4.4 Ford 65,626 -2.6 Chrysler 33,842 +21.4 Honda U.S. 10,738 +47.1 VW U.S.* 1,375 +4.7 Nissan U.S. 2,950 -19.3 Toyota U.S. 1,396 +17.7 Mazda U.S. 720 -- TOTAL 229,061 + 1.2

*Estimate