Automakers’ U.S. November sales rose to the highest level in almost five years, with replacement orders from Hurricane Sandy contributing to the increase, Bloomberg reported.
Hurricane Sandy, which plowed into New Jersey on Oct. 29 causing widespread damage in the Northeast, damaged more than 230,000 vehicles, including almost 200,000 in New York and New Jersey, Bloomberg reported.
Automakers sold 1.14 million vehicles in November, and industrywide light-vehicle deliveries jumped 15% to an annualized rate of 15.5 million, according to Autodata Corp. That was the highest annual rate since 15.6 million in January 2008, Bloomberg said.
Honda Motor Co.’s sales led the increase with a 39% jump, while Toyota Motor Corp.’s rose 17.2%. Nissan Motor Co., another Japanese automobile maker, saw its sales rise 13%.
U.S. automakers’ sales also boomed, with Ford Motor Co.’s up 6.4%, General Motors Co.’s rising 3.4% and Chrysler Group LLC’s up 14%. Deliveries of Chrysler’s Ram pickup truck jumped 23%.
Volkswagen AG reported combined sales with its Audi brand jumped 28% for the month, Bloomberg reported.
