American Auto Sales Climb 7%

Automakers sold 1.09 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. last month, up from 1.02 million units in October 2011, according to Autodata Corp.

The total equates to an annual sales rate of 14.3 million vehicles compared with a pace of 13.3 million units a year earlier and 14.9 million units in September. Carmakers affirmed their forecasts for full-year American sales of 14.5 million to 14.7 million vehicles. Last year's volume totaled 12.8 million units.

Hurricane Sandy which damaged East Coast dealerships and kept consumers at home curbed U.S. sales by 30,000 vehicles in the final days of October, estimates online auto data provider Edmunds.com.

Domestic automakers boosted volume 4% to 486,200 vehicles in October, led again by Chrysler, whose sales rose 9% to 122,500 units. Demand grew 5% to 195,800 units at General Motors and was virtually unchanged at 167,900 units at Ford.

Asian companies hiked U.S. sales 8% to 485,400 vehicles last month. Group volume advanced 15% to 155,200 units at Toyota and 9% to 107,000 units at Honda. Nissan, whose sales slid 3% to 79,700 units, was the only major carmaker to post a decline.

Hyundai demand fell 4% to 50,300 vehicles. Kia posted a 13% increase to an October best of 42,500 units.

European carmakers reported the biggest percentage gains in October. They boosted sales 15% year over year to 120,600 vehicles, paced by Volkswagen Group (+20% to 46,300 units). The VW brand (+22% to 34,300 units) had its best October since 1972.

The BMW brand (+21% to 26,500 units) outsold Mercedes-Benz Cars (+6% to 25,600 units). BMW has narrowed Mercedes' cumulative lead in American luxury sales this year to 2,800 vehicles from a 5,300-unit gap last month.

The Detroit Three posted double-digit gains in light-truck volume in October the first time since June that growth in demand for their trucks was stronger than for passenger cars.

But industrywide, car sales jumped 13% to 544,300 units last month, and truck volume rose 2% to 547,900 units. The fastest-gaining segment was small cars, which surged 32% surge to 211,600 units. Demand for fullsize pickup trucks rose 10% to 144,700 units. But sales were flat at 322,800 units for SUVs and crossover vehicles of all sizes.