FORT LAUDERDALE — AutoNation Inc. reported that new-vehicle unit sales in December 2011 totaled 24,342 units, an increase of 11 percent year over year.

Retail new-vehicle unit sales for AutoNation’s domestic segment were up 17 percent (7,609 units), while import sales were flat (11,621 units). Additionally, premium luxury sales were up 32 percent (5,112 units) vs. December 2010.

For the fourth quarter, new-vehicle unit sales increased 12 percent, with domestic up 19 percent, import up 1 percent, and premium luxury up 31 percent year over year. For full year 2011, AutoNation retail new-vehicle unit sales increased 7 percent, with domestic up 17 percent, import flat and premium luxury up 15 percent vs 2010.

WASHINGTON — AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson will deliver the keynote address at the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA)’s annual luncheon, scheduled for Dec. 7 at The Renaissance Mayflower hotel.

Jackson’s speech, titled “The Auto Recovery has Begun,” will detail the reasons for a projected upswing in one of America’s most critical industries. The announcement precedes news from the company that it’s new vehicle retail sales increased 21 percent year over year, with double-digit increases in all three of the company’s operating segments: domestic (29 percent), import (10 percent) and premium luxury (up 35 percent).

Jackson has led AutoNation since September 1999 and has served in key leadership roles at Mercedes-Benz USA, from executive vice president to president and, ultimately, CEO. He also served as managing partner of Bethesda’s Euro Motorcars from 1979 to 1990.

WANADA’s annual luncheon draws hundreds of auto dealers from across the metro region as well as keynotes from James Carville,Mary Matalin, George Will and Knight Kiplinger, according to AutoNation.

Headquartered in the District of Columbia, WANADA is the new car dealer group in the metropolitan Washington area. WANADA also trains and develops dealership personnel under its educational foundation, Automobile Dealer Education Institute.

WOLFSBURG — The Volkswagen Group reported a further increase in global deliveries from January to May this year at 14.6 percent. For the first time, deliveries to customers during this period topped the three million mark, running at 3.37 million units. The automaker also had a 6.8 percent increase in performance over the world market.

In May, Volkswagen Group delivered 708,900 vehicles to customers, a 7.4 percent increase over last year, reported F&I and Showroom. “We are very pleased with developments during the first five months of this year. The Volkswagen Group with its very convincing model range is benefiting from brisk demand in global automobile markets,” said Christian Klingler, VG board member for sales.

Overall, VG brands delivered 1.56 million vehicles throughout Europe in the first five months. In Germany, its home market, the Volkswagen Group achieved 8.7 percent growth, delivering 475,100 vehicles.

In May, deliveries in the North America region grew 19.7 percent to 261,600 units, of which 172,400 vehicles were delivered in the U.S. market. In South America, VG delivered more than 376,800 during the same period.

VG also reported a significant rise in deliveries in the Asia/Pacific region, with 1.04 million vehicles handed over to customers, of which 921,100 units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market. The company also recorded a further increase in the India market where 46,200 vehicles were delivered.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered more than two million vehicles for the first time in the period from January to May with a total of 2.09 million vehicles delivered worldwide.

Audi delivered 535,400 vehicles worldwide during the same time period while Škoda brand delivered 373,400 vehicles.

In addition, SEAT delivered 152,500 vehicles worldwide while Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 213,000 during the year’s first five months.

Toyota and Nissan surpassed the industry’s 6.8 percent increase in month-over-month sales in July, which CNW Research attributed to heavy promotions of lease deals and used-car trade-in programs by both automakers.

Toyota’s month-over-month sales increased by 20.4 percent, while Nissan’s jumped by 27.5 percent. Both manufacturers’ car and truck segments outpaced last month’s industry marks by significant amounts. The total industry car sales increased 5.5 percent in July, while total industry truck sales jumped by 8.2 percent.

CNW’s Art Spinella wrote that only the Kia car segment, which achieved a 20 percent sales increase, performed well based on “solid marketing and clever advertising.”

Among the Detroit Three, the Buick car and Cadillac truck segments reported sales increases of 32 percent and 42.5 percent, respectively.

The only Ford nameplate to report a month-to-month sales increase was the Lincoln truck segment.

The European brands had mixed sales results with increases from BMW car, BMW MINI, Saab car, Porsche car and truck, and Volkswagen car and truck. The increases were more of a result of lower June sales numbers than an actual jump in demand, wrote CNW’s Spinella.

The overall sales results illustrate that the market is responsive to manufacturer incentives. “While a majority of automakers have pulled back in general, consumers are focused on those who remain in the incentive game,” Spinella added.

He added that Toyota’s sales figures indicate a strong response to its incentives, but said it won’t help the company’s bottom line in the future.

“After months of dark clouds because of recalls and government accusations, the upturn for the top Asian brand is the first step in ‘clearing its name,’” Spinella continued. “We expect the incentive levels for Toyota to return to earth as soon as memories fade.”