US April auto sales increase 17.9% year on year

03 May 2011 22:25  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US light vehicle sales increased by 17.9% in April compared with the same month in 2010, according to a report on Tuesday by Autodata.

The US automobile industry is a major demand segment for chemicals such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), nylon 6,6 and several other synthetic fibres and paints and coatings.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) estimates that each automobile contains an average of $2,700 (€1,809) worth of chemicals.

Total light vehicle sales for April were at 1,157,794 units, Autodata said, up from 982,134 units in the same month a year ago.

General Motors had the biggest jump in sales last month among the six largest producers, which also include Ford, Chrysler, US Toyota, US Honda and US Nissan.

GM sales increased by 26.6% to 232,538 units in April from 183,614 units in April 2010.

"Because of the investments we've made in fuel-efficiency and global product architectures, [GM] is well positioned to meet these needs,” said General Motors vice president Don Johnson.

Among the other five major manufacturers, each posted an increase of between 9.8-22.5% year on year, except for US Toyota, which posted the smallest gain at just 1.3%.

"An excellent final weekend in April leads us into May with healthy inventory levels and a wide selection of popular models,” said US Toyota vice president and general manager Bob Carter.

Month on month, US light vehicle sales for April were down by 7.1%, from 1,246,623 units in March.

Of the big six auto producers, all but General Motors reported a decline in April from March levels. The biggest drop came from US Nissan, which reported sales figures 41% lower month on month.

Each of the other four to report a month on month drop saw declines between 4-11%.

GM reported an increase of 13% in April, up from 206,621 units in March.

The table below reflects April sales data.

	2011 April	2010 April	% Change
Chrysler	117,225	95,703	22
Ford	189,284	162,737	16
GM	232,538	183,614	27
Honda	124,799	113,697	10
Nissan	71,526	63,769	12
Toyota	159,540	157,439	1
Total	894,912	776,959	15

($1 = €0.67)

By: John Dietrich
713-525-2600

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