(By Balachander) General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) posted a 16 percent jump in U.S. sales for January amid strong Cadillac and crossover sales.
The Detroit, Michigan-based auto giant reported sales of 194,699 vehicles in the United States last month.
"The year is off to a very good start for General Motors," said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. "There's a sense of optimism among our dealers that only comes when you pair a growing economy with great new products."
Chevrolet and GMC sales rose 11 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Buick and Cadillac sales surged 32 percent and 47 percent.
Passenger car sales grew 12 percent and Crossovers sales increased 27 percent. Meanwhile, truck sales rose 13 percent.
Over the course of 2013, GM said Chevrolet will launch the all-new Impala, SS, Silverado and Corvette, as well as the Cruze diesel and Spark EV.
The company added that Buick is launching the Encore small crossover, followed by redesigns of the Regal and LaCrosse. GMC will launch an all-new Sierra. Cadillac will launch an all-new CTS.
Separately, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) said U.S. sales climbed 22 percent last month to 166,501 vehicles, with Fusion and Escape posting January sales records. Small car sales jumped 29 percent. Sales of all-new Ford Fusion surged 65 percent.
Meanwhile, Chrysler reported a 16 percent growth in U.S. sales for the month of December to 117,731 units, its best January since 2008.
GM shares rose 0.78 percent to trade at $28.31 on Friday, while Ford shares gained 0.46 percent to trade at $13.01.