(May 5, 2010) Nissan, Ford and Chrysler Group led the U.S. industry to a 20 percent sales gain in April as demand continued to recover from last year's collapse.

Overall sales rose to 982,302 from 819,692 a year earlier. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate was 11.5 million, the second strongest of the year behind March's 11.7 million.

Ford said its retail sales rose 32 percent en route to a 25 percent overall gain, its fifth straight month of 20 percent or more. Toyota climbed sharply for the second straight month, again aided by no-interest loans and discount leases aimed at combating its recall crisis. Chrysler's 25 percent jump marked its first double-digit increase in almost five years. Nissan was up 35 percent, and the Hyundai Group advanced 24 percent..

The results lifted year-to-date sales 17 percent above those of early 2009, when automakers battled the weakest demand in almost 30 years. General Motors Co.'s four surviving brands -- Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac – recorded a combined increase of 20 percent. Overall sales for the automaker were up 7 percent.

Among smaller automakers, Subaru racked up a 48 percent gain in April and Volkswagen boosted its sales 39 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, American Suzuki's April sales fell 23 percent and Porsche lost 6 percent.