GM's U.S. sales jumps 5 %in December, 14 %for year

General Motors Co. reported Wednesday total U.S. sales of 234,351 vehicles in December 2011, up 5 percent compared with December 2010. Sales for 2011 climbed 14 percent year over year to more than 2.5 million units. In December, retail deliveries were up 2 percent compared with a very strong December 2010, and accounted for 81 percent of GM sales. Deliveries to fleets were up 17 percent, the company said. GM said passenger car sales increased 12 percent in December and trucks, pickups and SUVs were up 13 percent. But crossover sales dropped 14 percent. GMC had GM's biggest sales jump for 2011, with an 18.8 percent boost. "GM's balanced portfolio of fuel-efficient cars, trucks and crossovers helped us make the most of the U.S. economy's slow but steady recovery in 2011,"said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. GM said its Chevrolet Volt had its best ever sales month in December with more than 1,500 plug-in hybrids sold. "Importantly, we were able to grow all four of our brands and reestablish Chevrolet as a force to be reckoned with in the passenger car business. This gives us a very solid foundation to compete in a market that we expect to keep growing," Johnson added.