DETROIT (AP) - The U.S. is speeding toward what could be a record year for auto sales.
Sales of new cars and trucks rose by double-digit percentages at most major automakers in October, and companies are raising their expectations for the rest of the year. Ford now expects total U.S. sales of 17.4 million this year, just topping the record of 17.35 million from 2001.
General Motors's U.S. sales rose almost 16 percent over last October. Ford and Toyota reported 13 percent gains. Nissan sales rose 12.5 percent over a year ago, and Fiat Chrysler's were up nearly 15 percent. Honda sales rose 8.6 percent. Volkswagen, mired in an emissions-cheating scandal, posted a small gain.
U.S. sales rose 14 percent to nearly 1.5 million, according to Autodata Corp. It was the best October since 2001, when zero-percent financing offers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks pushed sales to 1.6 million, according to the LMC Automotive.
GM said sales have run at an annual rate of 17.8 million for the past six months, putting the year on track to break the annual record. And the pace likely won't slow as holiday promotions begin in November.
"It's going to be hard not to hit that record at this pace," said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of auto sales forecasting for LMC Automotive. Schuster said the industry roared back from weak sales in the early months of the year.