CHICAGO: US automakers predicted strong sales growth this year after posting solid increases in 2010 sales Tuesday, with Ford up 19 percent, Chrysler up 17 percent and GM up six percent. Ford said it was the biggest winner in 2010 as it expanded US market share for the second year in a row to over 16 percent with total sales of 1.9 million vehicles. It was the automaker's first back-to-back market share increase since 1993 and comes after years of painful restructuring. Unlike General Motors and Chrysler - which were forced into bankruptcy in 2009 - Ford managed to survive the 2008 financial crisis and economic downturn without government aid. Ford said it expects the global economy to expand three to four percent in 2011 while global auto sales reach record levels of 75 to 85 million vehicles. It estimates that 2010 global sales will increase 11 percent to 72 million vehicles. GM had a more robust forecast for 2011 US sales - 13 to 13.5 million vehicles - and said it was well positioned for gains after sales rose 6.3 percent to 2.2 million vehicles in 2010. GM – biggest initial stock offering in November – said it managed to expand its market share in 2010 while its four remaining brands sold 118,435 more vehicles this year than the company' eight brands in 2009. Chrysler's sales rose 17 percent to 1.09 million vehicles in 2010 after posting nine straight months of growth culminating in a 16 percent year-on-year gain for December. – Agence France
