Chrysler, Toyota and Honda Post Sales Gains; Nissan Lags

Domestic sales of Chrysler Corp. cars and trucks increased a healthy 18% in September compared with a weak month a year ago.

Toyota Motor Corp. posted a record for the month, with sales up 43%, and Honda Motor Co.’s sales grew 9%. Nissan Motor Corp. continued to lag its rivals, reporting a 14% decline in sales for the month.

Chrysler reported a 22% jump in car sales and a 17% increase in sales of pickups, sport-utility vehicles, vans and minivans.

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. were scheduled to issue their sales reports Monday.

Analyst David Healy of Burnham Securities Inc. said Chrysler benefited from fleet sales of its redesigned Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler Concorde sedans, and may have gained some sales at the expense of GM’s post-strike problems.

Chrysler’s gain also is due to a favorable comparison with September 1997, when its sales fell 14%, and to continued rebates and discount financing on several car and minivan models.

“They’re good numbers, but I don’t think they can sustain anything like that” in the coming months, Healy said.

For the model year, Chrysler set a record of 2.45 million vehicles sold. The model year officially ends Sept. 30.

Toyota had the biggest increase, with double-digit gains in cars and trucks. But it also had a favorable comparison with a weak September a year ago. Nonetheless, its bestseller, the Camry sedan, set a September record, with sales up 28%.

Honda’s gains were boosted by a 57% rise in light truck sales, with sales of the CR-V SUV up 60%.

Nissan’s truck sales rose by 5%, but its car sales were off 23% despite $2,000 rebates on all models.