AUTOS

Sales of Domestically Built Vehicles Rise: Sales rose 10.7% during the middle of March, despite East Coast storms that dumped several feet of snow and temporarily closed many showrooms. Sales of light trucks--pickups, minivans and sport-utility vehicles--continued to outpace cars, based on sales reports released for the March 11-20 period. Truck sales were up 24.6%, contrasted with a 1.6% improvement for cars. Trucks accounted for 44.4% of all vehicles sold during the period. General Motors said its truck sales were up 29.5%; Ford Motor Co., 13.1%, and Chrysler Corp., 25.9%, Ward’s Automotive Reports estimated. Chrysler releases its sales only monthly. Ford’s car sales rose 6.4% while GM’s dropped 6%. Chrysler, which is winning customers from other car makers with its acclaimed LH mid-size sedans, had 43.6% higher car sales.