Domestic Car Sales Up 29.8% in First 10 Days of January

U.S.-made car sales rose 29.8% in early January, auto makers reported Tuesday, giving an upbeat start to a year analysts predict will be sluggish.

The eight companies said they sold cars and light trucks at a daily rate of 32,539 during the Jan. 1-10 period this year, compared to a 25,629-a-day pace during the same time in 1989.

Truck sales rose 22.8%, bringing the combined car and truck sales up 27%.

Chrysler Corp.’s car sales rose 14.4% in early January, while the company’s truck sales jumped 43.7% over last year.

Industry analysts said Chrysler’s gain in the truck market this period shows the auto maker’s incentive program on minivans has boosted consumer interest in the vehicles.

“You could ascribe the higher sales to Chrysler’s first-time retail incentives on the minivans that started in December,” said Mary Ann Sudol of Fitch Investors Service Inc. of New York. “The minivan has become very popular and Chrysler’s strategy to protect their crown jewel is working.”

General Motors Corp. fared best in car sales, with 40.4% more cars sold in 1990’s first 10-day sales period, compared to that period last year. GM truck sales rose 28.4% in early January this year.

Ford Motor Co. said its sales rose 15.4% for cars and 10.9% for trucks in early January, compared to the same period last year.

AUTO SALES

Jan. 1-10 % 1990 change GM 76,417 +40.4 Ford 49,369 +15.4 Chrysler 20,364 +14.4 Honda U.S. 5,531 +21.2 Mazda U.S. 713 +139.0 Mitsubishi U.S. 1,344 +2,205.9 Nissan U.S. 914 -48.0 Toyota U.S. 4,123 +513.5 TOTAL 158,775 +29.8

There were 8 selling days in the selling period this year and 7 last year.