国际英语新闻：Ford February sales jump 43 percent to lead Big three gains in U.S. market

CHICAGO, Mar. 2 (Xinhua) -- Detroit's automakers all showed improvement in February sales in U.S. market, while Toyota Motor Corp. saw its sales slide 8.7 percent from a year ago, Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Chrysler Group LLC's increase, however, was a paltry 0.47 percent from a year ago. Ford Motor Co. sales jumped 43 percent in February compared with a year ago, joining General Motors Co. in posting strong results as GM sales rose 12 percent.

The other big gainer for the month was Nissan Motor Co. with a 29 percent increase. The Nissan Division saw sales rise 32 percent with a pair of small vehicles, the Versa subcompact car and Rogue compact crossover achieving record sales in February. The Infiniti luxury brand was up almost 11 percent.

Honda Motor Co., which has been gaining sales in the wake of Toyota's recall problems, saw its sales increase 12.7 percent in February compared with the same month in 2008.

Ford, which also has benefited from Toyota's problems had 142, 285 total sales for the month (including Volvo) and outsold No. 1 GM, which notched 141,951 sales. If Volvo is not included, GM retains the top spot. This is the first time since 1998 that Ford has beaten GM.

For Ford, the increase was across the board. Car sales were up 54 percent, sport utility vehicles were up 39 percent and trucks increased 36 percent. Among brands, Ford sales were up 46 percent, Lincoln sales were up 19 percent, and Mercury sales were up 24 percent.

The Dearborn-based automaker estimates its February U.S. total market share was 17 percent -- up 3 percentage points versus a year ago. Ford said it will increase production in the second quarter of 2010 with plans to produce 595,000 vehicles, up 144,000 vehicles (32 percent) compared with the same period in 2009. The automaker built 570,000 vehicles, in the first quarter.

"The strength of our new products and Ford's leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value are resonating with customers," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing sales and service.

GM said its rise was fueled by stronger fleet, crossover and passenger car sales.

But expected gains by other automakers are not likely to lift industry wide sales enough to recover from the snowstorms and recall problems confronting Toyota Motor Corp., analysts said.

Sales of GM's four core brands -- Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac -- rose 32 percent while sales of castoff brands Saturn, Hummer, Pontiac and Saab fell 86.1 percent.

It is the fifth straight month of year-over-year sales increases for GM.