Auto sales showed promise in December

Ford and Subaru said year-to-year sales gained 33 percent in December, while Hyundai said sales were up 40 percent from a year ago, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

For the year, Ford said sales were down 15 percent in 2009, as it sold 1.62 million vehicles last year.

December did not signal a turnaround at General Motors Co., where sales fell 6 percent from December 2008. At Chrysler Group, sales were down 4 percent from December to December with annual sales off 36 percent from 2008.

Toyota Motor Corp. said December sales rose 22.9 percent from December 2008.

American Honda Motor Co. reported a 15.6 percent increase from December 2008, while Nissan North America Inc, reported an 18.2 percent gain.

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