Big Three report December 2011 & yearly sales numbers up

DETROIT (WXYZ) - December sales are out for the Detroit Three and the numbers are good.

Year-end figures were in the positive for GM, Ford and Chrysler. Chrysler posted the largest percentage sales gain while GM sold the most.

GM posted a five percent rise in US sales for 2011, selling more than 2.5 million vehicles last year and the company gained the market share.

Don Johnson, GM's Vice President of US Sales Operations credited GM's balanced portfolio to fuel efficient cars, trucks and cross-overs. December highlights included a 42% year over year increase in Chevrolet Sonic sales  compared with the Aveo and a 54% percent boost in Chevy Cruze sales.

Ford, meantime, reported total company sales for December; up 10%. Total Ford Motor Company sales for the Year went up 11%. It was the Ford brand's first three point market share gain over three consecutive years since 1970.

The Ford Fusion was hot, posting a record year with more than 248,000 vehicles sold. Sales of the Ford Explorer were up a whopping 124% for the year.

Chrysler Group LLC had the biggest percentage jumps, posting a 37% rise in US sales for December and a 26% sales jump for the year. Chrysler says it's the largest percentages sales gain of any full-line manufacturer and it's December sales marked the 21st consecutive moth of year over year sales gains.

The Chrysler 300 posted the best sales month of the year and its best December sales since 2007.

The new Dodge Charger saw a sales increase of 227% compared with December a year ago.