NEW YORK: AutoNation Inc.’s new-vehicle sales rose 14 percent in October from a year earlier, matching the pace set by the industry as a whole in the U.S. last month.
The largest auto retailer in the U.S. reported new-vehicle sales of 28,247 in October. Sales of new imported brands were up 10 percent from October 2014 to 13,164 vehicles. Sales of domestic brands jumped 16 percent to 8,724 vehicles, while premium luxury sales rose 17 percent to 6,359 vehicles.
AutoNation matched growth of the U.S. auto industry, which rode truck demand and incentives to a 14 percent increase in October compared with a year earlier. The industry sold 1.455 million vehicles in October thanks in part to double-digit gains at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Nissan Motor Co., Subaru and Toyota Motor Corp.
The industry is on pace to set an annual sales record in 2015. The seasonally adjusted annual rate was at 18.23 million last month, the highest since July 2005, topping September’s 18.17 million figure.
