DaimlerChrysler Posts Record Sales in November

Unabated growth in demand for sport-utility vehicles and pickups, driven by a healthy economy and low gasoline prices, helped boost DaimlerChrysler’s U.S. vehicle sales a healthy 7% in November and set a record for the month.

Demand for light trucks also helped Toyota Motor Corp. post a November sales record with a 21% improvement compared with November 1997. Honda Motor Co. reported that it had a nearly 5% gain.

“This year is shaping up as one of the industry’s best ever, thanks to sustained strong sales through the fourth quarter,” said Yale Gieszl, a Toyota vice president.

DaimlerChrysler’s car sales increased nearly 6%, thanks in large part to strong sales of the full-size LH series sedans--the Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler LHS, Concorde and 300M. Truck sales were up 7%.

Toyota enjoyed its ninth consecutive month of 100,000-plus sales with November records for the Land Cruiser and 4Runner SUVs, as well as the Sienna minivan.

Honda said its sales increased because of record November demand for its redesigned Odyssey minivan and its popular compact SUV, the CR-V. Honda’s light truck sales were up 88%, more than offsetting a 4% drop in car sales.

Nissan Motor Corp. posted another down month, with sales off nearly 13% from a year ago. Nissan’s only bright spot was its Infiniti luxury division, which posted a 21% gain that was helped by record demand for its QX4 SUV.

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. plan to report their November sales Thursday.