(April 2, 2016) Nissan, Honda, Fiat Chrysler and Ford Motor all reported solid U.S. sales gains in March as higher spending on incentives and strong demand for light trucks lifted the industry to another monthly advance.

Nissan led the way with a 13 percent jump in March deliveries. Volume rose 9.4 percent at American Honda Motor, with sales up 11 percent at Honda Division and 1.2 percent at Acura.

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Ford each came in with advances in the 8 percent range. General Motors deliveries rose 0.9 percent while again touting a rise in retail sales and a drop in less-profitable fleet deliveries. Volume dropped for the second month this year at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

Volume at Nissan Division advanced 13 percent to a record 149,784 cars and light trucks. Deliveries rose 10 percent at Infiniti. Sales of Nissan-branded crossovers, pickups and SUVs set a monthly record, with volume rising 9 percent, the company said today. Nissan Division’s car lineup also set a record, with deliveries of 88,278, an increase of 16 percent.

Overall, the Nissan group’s car volume rose 13 percent in March while truck sales jumped 12 percent. Nissan’s U.S. incentives averaged $3,362 a vehicle last month, an increase of 5.6 percent over March 2015, TrueCar estimated.

The Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck brands each posted year-over-year sales gains for FCA in March compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep brand’s 15 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any FCA US brand during the month.

“Strong Jeep and Ram brand sales gave us a fast start to the important spring selling season and extended our year-over-year monthly sales gains to six full years,” said Reid Bigland, senior vice president - Sales. “As consumers continue to shift their buying preference toward utility vehicles and trucks, they are walking directly into the FCA wheelhouse.”

At Ford, sales increased 7.8 percent, with volume rising 7.6 percent at the Ford division and 11 percent at Lincoln. Across the Ford and Lincoln lineups, truck volume rose 11 percent, utility vehicle sales jumped 14 percent and car deliveries skidded 1.6 percent last month.

"Customers continue buying high-end SUVs and trucks, helping the Ford brand increase its average transaction prices by more than $1,600 per vehicle in March -- nearly double the industry average,” Mark LaNeve, Ford's vice president for U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement. “We have been seeing solid sales momentum in the first quarter across our entire portfolio."

Continuing to buck U.S. sales trends with its core sedans — Civic and Accord — Honda sales easily moved past the previous March total with a record setting performance from Civic, backed by strong performances from Accord and HR-V. Core truck models CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey, maintained strong demand.

"The power of Honda's well-balanced portfolio was on full display in March," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "Importantly, we will continue to strengthen both our car and truck lineups throughout the year, with new core and niche products to further extend the brand's appeal."

Chevrolet has been the main engine of growth for General Motors. The brand’s retail sales were up 10 percent in the first quarter versus a year ago, and its retail market share was up full point year over year to an estimated 11 percent.

“The strong retail and Commercial sales GM has been delivering are the result of a multi-year strategy to strengthen our brands, attract new customers and grow profitably,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We are growing retail sales faster than the industry, and we are doing it with disciplined incentives and inventories, and lower rental deliveries. Our business is very healthy, and we are going to manage it with conviction to keep it that way.”

While most manufactures showed sales increases over March 2015, Toyota sales were off 2.7 percent with Toyota nameplates off 4.3 percent. The bright spot for Toyota was sales of SUVs and trucks. "Trucks hauled the industry to see the best March in over a decade," said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. "For the Toyota division, light trucks, mostly supported by record sales of RAV4 and Highlander, posted best-ever March and first quarter sales."
 
Sales were also off at scandal-plagued Volkswagen, down10 percent at the VW brand, where U.S. volume has skidded five straight months as the company grapples with emissions violations and a ban on sales of some diesel models. Audi, meanwhile, was a bright spot for VW Group racking up an increase of 7.5 percent, its 77th monthly gain in a row.

Sources: Manufacturers, Automotive News