Automakers report strong October sales

In one of its best performances in two years, the U.S. auto market improved in October, hitting an annual sales pace of 12 million vehicles.

Toyota Motor Corp., beset by recalls, was the only major automaker to report a decline.

"There are some good signals," said Jeff Schuster, an analyst with J.D. Power & Associates. "Credit is easing, and some buyers who have been shut out are getting back into the market. And it is not an incentive-driven market."

Americans purchased about 1 million vehicles in October, up 13.4 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp.

It was the best sales pace in the past two years with the exception of August 2009, when the market was spurred by the federal "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president.

Automaker results:

General Motors Co. said sales rose 12.8 percent in October, to 183,392 vehicles, compared with the same month a year earlier. Total sales for GM, including the discontinued Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn and Saab brands, rose 4.2 percent, to 183,543, Autodata reported.

Ford Motor Co. sales rose 19.2 percent to 157,935 vehicles after factoring out Volvo, which Ford sold earlier this year. Ford said it was on track to gain market share for the second year in a row - the first time that's happened since 1993.

Chrysler Group's October sales rose 37 percent to 90,137 vehicles.

Honda Motor Co. said its sales rose 5.6 percent, to 98,811 vehicles.

Hyundai Motor America had its best October ever, posting a 38 percent increase in sales, to 42,656 units, compared with a year ago.

Kia, Hyundai's sister company, also had a record October, seeing sales rise 38.7 percent, to 31,199 vehicles.

BMW Group said sales rose 17.2 percent, to 19,272 vehicles, compared with the same month a year ago.

Audi said it also had a record October, selling 8,128 vehicles, a 10.5 percent increase.

Toyota said its sales fell 4.4 percent to 145,474 vehicles. It saw big decreases in two of its flagship cars, the Camry and the Corolla.