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The logos for the Big Three automobile manufacturers, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, are shown.The Associated Press

General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and other major automakers reported rising vehicles sales in the U.S. in December, capping the best year since 2006 thanks to cheap fuel and low interest rates. GM topped sales estimates while Ford and Honda fell short of predictions.

GM's 274,483 sales produced a 19 per cent gain, compared with analysts' forecast of 13 per cent. Ford sold 219,369 light vehicles, up 1.3 per cent, missing analyst forecasts for a 2.8 per cent gain.

The U.S. unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV sold 193,261 cars and trucks last month, up 20 per cent for December and giving full-year sales a 16 per cent boost on its way to gaining the most market share. Analysts had estimated a jump of 23 per cent last month.

The market's shift to light trucks, which outsold cars every month of the year for the first time since 2004, played to GM's and Fiat Chrysler's strengths, such as their sport-utility vehicles and large pickups. Ford's sales gains were tempered by lower production for its top-selling F-Series pickup. The F-150 truck was redesigned with an all-aluminum body.

"Our best December sales in a decade pushed our full-year sales over the 2 million unit threshold for our best annual sales since 2006," said Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales for the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based unit. "Last year marked our fifth-consecutive year of annual sales growth in the U.S., and once again, we were the fastest-growing automaker in the country."

All automakers were projected to report sales increases in December as the strengthening job market, available credit and the lowest gasoline prices in more than five years bolstered consumer confidence. Deliveries are projected to rise again this year for an unprecedented sixth straight year, albeit at a slowing pace, as volumes return to pre-recession levels.

December Rate

The annualized selling rate, adjusted for seasonal trends, may have been 17.3 million, including medium and heavy trucks that typically account for at least 200,000 sales annually, said the former Chrysler Group, which now calls itself FCA US. The average of 13 estimates was for a light-vehicle selling rate of 16.9 million, down slightly from November's 17.2 million, but still the third-fastest pace of the year.

Dealers last month may have sold 1.5 million cars and light trucks, the average of seven analysts' estimates, which would bring the full-year total to 16.5 million and cap a 58 per cent increase since 2009, when General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC restructured in bankruptcy. Light-vehicle sales in the U.S. averaged 16.8 million from 2000 to 2007. The record, set in 2000, was 17.4 million. Buyers of new models have been undeterred by record recalls, mostly of older vehicles.

Chrysler 200

Chrysler brand sales rose 53 per cent, led by the new 200 family sedan, which nearly tripled deliveries, to 16,229. It was the brand's best December in seven years.

Jeep sales jumped 19 per cent to 63,274, powered by the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler. Ram pickups soared 32 per cent to 44,222. For the year, Ram pickup sales jumped 24 per cent to 439,789.

FCA US now reported rising sales for 57 consecutive months under Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, and dealers are feeling good.

David Kelleher added 9,800 square feet of showroom floor and service space at his FCA US dealership near Philadelphia last year to keep up with sales that rose more than he forecasted. He's adding as many as six salespeople.

Nissan Strong

Nissan and Infiniti brands combined to sell 117,318 models last month for a 6.9 per cent gain that topped the average estimate for a 6 per cent rise. Full-year sales rose 11 per cent to 1.39 million, led by a 12 per cent increase in deliveries for the namesake brand.

"Nissan had its all-time best year on the strength of our core vehicles – Altima, Sentra, Versa and Rogue, as well as Nissan Leaf, which had the best-ever year for any plug-in vehicle in the industry," said Fred Diaz, Nissan's senior vice president for U.S. sales, marketing and operations. "We expect low gas prices and high consumer confidence to be the magic formula that continues to bring more buyers into dealer showrooms."

Honda sales rose 1.5 per cent, less than the 6.3 per cent increase predicted by analysts.

Honda finished the year with 1.54 million vehicle sales, a 1 per cent increase. Sales by the company's namesake brand rose 1 per cent with an 11 per cent increase in compact Fit sales and 10 per cent growth in sales of CR-V compact sport-utility vehicles. Deliveries by the premium Acura climbed 1.5 per cent as the TLX sedan replaced the mid-size TL and MDX SUV sales rose 24 per cent.

Analysts' Estimates

After FCA US, the biggest estimated increases for the month were 14 per cent for Toyota Motor Corp. and 13 per cent for GM. Ford, which offered dealers special bonuses for meeting sales targets on its cars and Escape compact sport-utility vehicles, may report a 2.8 per cent increase in December light-vehicle sales. That was the smallest gain projected by the analysts.

Seoul-based affiliates Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. were projected to report a combined 6.7 per cent sales gain for December, while Volkswagen AG's VW and Audi brands were predicted to report a 6.1 per cent increase

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