DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' top North American executive says U.S. auto sales have been strong in January.
North American President Mark Reuss says the sales growth that GM and the U.S. industry saw at the end of 2011 is continuing through the first third of this month.
November and December were among the strongest months last year for U.S. car and truck sales. Buyers were drawn by cheap loans and an improving economy. Many needed to replace aging vehicles. The average age of a car on U.S. roads is approaching 11 years.
U.S. auto sales rose 10 percent last year to 12.8 million cars and trucks. GM's U.S. sales rose 13 percent.
Analysts say U.S. sales could rise by another million this year, ranging between 13.5 million to 14 million.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
