Business News

CHICAGO, Sept 1, (APP/AFP) – The US auto industry struggled to maintain past sales momentum in August, with General Motors, Ford and Nissan selling fewer vehicles as less discounting kept customers from showrooms. But the North American unit of Fiat Chrysler reported a three percent sales increase buoyed by its popular Jeep sports utility vehicles. General Motors, the biggest US automaker, reported an eight percent sales decline compared to August 2015. Ford reported a five percent drop, and Nissan a 6.5 percent drop — a departure from high sales numbers in previous months. Automakers offered a positive take on the numbers, saying the average amount customers paid for a car or truck — the average transaction price or ATP — had increased. “Our retail strength is reflected in our record ATPs in August, which were up more than $1,600 from last month and nearly $5,800 above the industry average, while our incentive spending was below the industry average and well below our domestic competitors,” Kurt McNeil, head of US sales for GM, said in a statement. The average vehicle price had already gone up 2.5 percent in July, compared to a year ago, to $34,264, according to Kelly Blue Book.