US auto sales strong in July on SUV, luxury demand

Summer deals and big demand for SUVs and luxury vehicles kept U.S. auto sales strong in July.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that second quarter profits jumped by 70 percent compared to the same period previous year.

In this Thursday, July 2, 2015, photo, Robert Schemer, his wife, Kelly, and their son Graham, 9, pose next to their newly purchased pre-owned 2013 Ford Flex Limited, at the Star Ford Lincoln dealership in Glendale, Calif. At right is sales consultant Allan Calix. Nissan’s were up 8 percent.

Fiat Chrysler projected total industry sales in the U.S.to be a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 17.8 million units for July, which would be among the best in a decade.

Nissan said its sales grew to 130,872 vehicles from 121,452 a year ago, slightly below the 132,388 units Edmunds.com had forecast.

The major automakers are reporting their July sales throughout the day.

Automakers lured buyers with summer discounts to clear out 2015 models.

At GM, a 24% increase in Chevrolet pickup, van and SUV sales helped the brand deliver its best July sales since 2006. Toyota was offering zero-percent financing for five years on new Camrys; buyers could also get zero-percent financing for six years on Ford Escapes.

For Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand, sales grew 23% to 73,216 vehicles, driven by double-digit increases in Patriot, Wrangler and Cherokee sales.

On July 27, Chrysler agreed to pay a $105 million fine and to initiate a plan to fix the way the company dealt with 23 separate recalls to fix problems with more than 11 million vehicles. Sales of Nissan’s luxury Infiniti brand climbed 22 percent on demand for the QX60 SUV and the new Q70 sedan.

Buick sales also grew 18% on strong demand for its Encore and Enclave crossovers.

In all, sales of utilities jumped 13%, while truck sales grew 5.7%. F-Series pickup sales, which had been down due to lack of inventory as a new truck went into production, were up 5 per cent. But Ford’s vehicle sales fell 4 per cent.

Ram pickup sales rose 1% again in July to 38,157 units, after posting a 1% year-over-year sales increase in June.