Incentives Boost Gm Sales

General Motors Corp. said Wednesday that U.S. car and light truck sales grew 7 percent in August, boosted by dealer incentives and new models that hit showroom floors.

Chrysler Corp. reported flat U.S. sales last month, which was the first month since January in which sales didn’t decline. Both automakers beat analysts’ expectations.

Among foreign automakers that reported U.S. sales Wednesday, Honda Motor Co. said August sales were up 38 percent for its best month ever. Toyota Motor Corp. reported a 4 percent decline in August sales.

“It looks like we had another strong close to the month,” said David Healy, an analyst with Burnham Securities Inc. “Whether that is due to more rebates or just a more willing consumer is not really clear at this point. But it’s probably a combination of both.”

GM’s car sales were up nearly 8 percent compared with August of last year, while light truck sales grew an estimated 7 percent. Rebates and other dealer incentives on older GM models, such as the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari, played a key role in propelling the increase, analysts and company officials said.

“Incentives are driving the marketplace here,” said Eric Goldstein, an analyst with Bear, Stearns & Co.

Analysts and GM also credited the company’s new mid-size lineup for the strong showing. The Chevrolet Malibu and Oldsmobile Cutlass are on showroom floors after being delayed by a strike in Oklahoma City earlier this year.

“GM’s new midsize cars are winners,” said Philip Fricke, an analyst with Prudential Securities Inc. “These are the best midsize cars GM has ever had.”

The increase in light truck sales was driven by a demand for minivans, including the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Trans Sport and Oldsmobile Silhouette, said Michael C. DiGiovanni, GM’s marketing chief.

Chrysler said car sales were down 14 percent from August last year, but that light truck sales increased 7 percent. The automaker said it sold more minivans and trucks last month than in any previous August.

Honda said demand for the Civic and Accord cars helped take the company past 100,000 vehicle sales in a month for the first time. And Subaru’s 29 percent increase made August its best month in eight years.