AUTOS

GM’s California Sales Surge: General Motors Corp. said retail sales in California increased 30.6% in the first quarter of the 1994 model year, reflecting the impact of its “value pricing” program designed to win back market share in the state. Sales for the entire industry were up 7.5% in California for the October-to-December period, the company said. The sales increase allowed GM to capture 21.5% of the California market, up about four points from a year ago. Nationwide, GM holds 33.6% of the market. Under value pricing, the company sets a fixed price for a well-equipped car by cutting dealer discounts and profit margins. The figures, which are based on data from J.D. Power & Associates, do not include fleet sales.