AUTOS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Domestic Auto, Truck Sales Rise: Domestic auto makers said that mid-July car and truck sales rose 17%. Car sales were up 13.5% and trucks rose 21.2%, not counting General Motors Corp. The No. 1 auto maker delayed its numbers because of a two-week vacation shutdown. Ford Motor Co. reported 8.1% higher car sales and 21.1% higher truck sales for a combined gain of 14.3%. Chrysler Corp.’s car sales rose an estimated 44.7% and its light truck sales--minivans, sport-utility vehicles and pickups--were up 12.6%, according to Ward’s Automotive Reports. Among Japanese auto makers that build cars in the United States, Honda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Toyota reported lower sales, while Nissan and Mazda reported higher sales.
