Ford Motor Company, Chrysler | featured news

General Motors Co, the largest U.S. automaker, reported a 1.5 percent increase in September auto sales on the strength of its passenger car sales, while Ford Motor Co posted sales that were on par with its results from a year earlier.

General Motors and Chrysler reported double-digit sales of new vehicles, while Ford’s rose 7 percent. Toyota sales were up 60 percent.

Chrysler sales rose 20 percent last month, its strongest April in four years. General Motors and Ford reported slight dips for the month. Overall, the U.S. auto industry appears strong.

Hourly workers represented by the United Auto Workers ratified a labor deal with Ford Motor Co on Wednesday, leaving Chrysler as the last U.S. automaker without a finalized contract.

Both companies report rising sales, but Ford Motor Co. says profits fell about 8% compared with the same period last year as the automaker paid off debt and invested in new vehicles.

But Chrysler Group said its August sales rose 7 percent thanks to the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

If union members accept the deal, Ford will gain some of the benefits that General Motors and Chrysler needed bankruptcy reorganization to achieve.

The president's chief of staff criticized U.S. car companies Sunday for relying too long and gas guzzlers and not investing enough in alternative energy vehicles.