Sales of big, brawny pickup trucks fueled strong demand for new vehicles in the United States in June, driving the industry toward its strongest month since before the recession that drove General Motors Co. and Chrysler into bankruptcy.
GM and Ford Motor Co. posted stronger-than-expected sales, and Chrysler Group’s sales met analysts’ expectations as the improving U.S. housing market led to surging demand for full-size pickups at all the U.S. automakers.
“America’s families are better off than they were at the beginning of the year and they believe—with good justification—that the economic expansion is going to continue,” said GM Chief Economist Mustafa Mohatarem in a statement.