US August Car Sales - Live Blog: Will Buyers' Love Of Trucks Trump Economic Fears?

By Benjamin Reeves | September 04 2012 9:54 AM

Global carmakers on Tuesday reported U.S. monthly sales for August 2012, beginning with Chrysler. Besides the No. 3 U.S. automaker, sales figures for last month will be reported for Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), Volkswagen AG (Frankfurt: VOW) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) report.

Reuters

A customer looks over Toyota automobiles at a dealership in Daly City, California.

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Chrysler Group LLC, a subsidiary of Italian company Fiat S.p.A. (Milan: F), reported August 2012 U.S. sales up 14 percent over the year before, its best August sales month in five years and the 29th consecutive month of year-over-year gains for the rejuvenated Detroit carmaker.

Fiat brand sales led the pack, up 34 percent, while Chrysler brand sales were similarly robust, up 25 percent. Ram Truck sales surged 18 percent and Dodge brand sales increased 13 percent, while Jeep sales grew a more modest 5 percent.

Overall, Chrysler Group sold 148,472 vehicles in the U.S. during the month of August. Dodge Brand President and CEO and Head of U.S. Sales Reid Bigland said Chrysler had benefitted from "an incredibly resilient U.S. new vehicle sales industry." Chrysler projected an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales of around 14.6 million.

Fiat S.p.A. (Milan: F) shares fell 0.74 percent to €4.27 ($5.37) Tuesday.