GM, DCX improve; Ford declines amid rising gasoline price

Every major automaker except Ford Motor Co. sold more vehicles in the United States last month than in the previous May, as American consumers stepped into the peak summer sales season apparently thinking about high gas prices and choosing to buy small cars, car-based utility vehicles and more Toyotas than ever.

Market leader General Motors Corp. said its sales rose an impressive 9.6% in May, to 371,056 cars and light trucks, compared with a year ago, driven by sales of several fuel-efficient new passenger cars, its new, large, Lansing-made crossovers and new full-size pickups that have the best fuel economy in the class.

But rival Toyota's sales rose a whopping 14.1% in May to 269,023 — the best U.S. month ever for the Japanese giant, driven by fuel-efficient cars and the new Tundra full-size pickup. Toyota also outsold Ford for the second month in a row, though Ford leads for the year. More at Detroit Free Press

Ford's sales fell 6.9%, despite strong sales of new crossovers such as the Ford Edge. The utility vehicle based on the Fusion sedan is doing so well that Ford raised its sales target by 20% to 120,000.

Chrysler Group sales rose 4.3%, thanks to its new four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Honda Motor Co. sales rose a steady 2.5%, despite a double-digit drop in sales of its Accord sedan. And Nissan Motor Co. logged a 7.4% increase for the month, due to increased sales of its small and midsize cars.