A recent uptick in gas prices pushed consumers toward fuel-efficient vehicles rather than back to the sidelines, with the annual sales rate jumping to 15.1 million vehicles, according to Autodata. This was the best monthly showing since February 2008. Volkswagen led the way with a 42 percent sales surge year over year, followed by Chrysler’s 40 percent increase.

Audi: Audi of America reported 8,531 luxury vehicles sold in February, surpassing the prior February record set in 2011. The company’s year-over-year vehicle sales increased 10 percent while it’s year-to-date growth increased 14.9 percent compared to 2011. Three Audi models recorded year-over-year sales increases of 15 percent or more, including the Audi A3, Audi A6 and Audi TT models.

BMW/MINI: BMW Group reported February sales of 26,184 vehicles, a 31.5 percent increase from the 19,919 vehicles sold during the year-ago month. Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 29.2 percent from a year ago to 21,204 in February. MINI USA reported sales of 4,980 units, an increase of 42.2 percent from the 3,503 sold in February 2011.

Chrysler: Chrysler Group LLC recorded its best February sales month since 2008 with 133,521 units sold, a 40 percent increase from February 2010. The Chrysler brand recorded a 114 percent year-over-year increase, while the FIAT brand finished its first year of sales with its best month ever. Sales of the Fiat 500 were up 69 percent compared to the previous month. Both the Jeep and Dodge brands posted year-over-year sales increases in February as well.

Ford: Ford Motor Company experienced a 14 percent increase in sales vs. the year-ago month, with 179,119 vehicles sold. Retail sales alone increased 19 percent. The Ford brand was up 14 percent, while Lincoln posted a 16 percent increase vs. a year ago. Ford’s F-Series posted a 26 percent increase, totaling 47,273 pickups. Focus sales totaled 23,350 units.

GM: General Motors Co. announced total sales of 209,306 vehicles in February, up 1.1 percent compared to a year ago. Year-over-year sales of the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD were up 28 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Other sales highlights for February include double-digit sales increases for the Buick LaCrosse, the Chevrolet Equinox and Camaro, and the GMC Terrain.

Honda/Acura: American Honda Motor Co. posted sales of 110,157 units, an increase of 7.8 percent vs. February 2011, based on the daily selling rate. The Honda Division posted February 2012 sales of 98,899, an increase of 8.8 percent year over year. The Acura Division’s February sales totaled 11,258, up 0.1 percent compared to February 2011, with the TL and TSX models registering strong sales increases.

Hyundai: Hyundai Motor America announced record February sales of 51,151 units, up 18 percent vs. 2011. Overall retail sales rose 29 percent year over year, while sales of the Sonata, Elantra and Accent increased by 11 percent, 12 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Combined sales of the Genesis and Equus models were up five percent over 2011 as well.

Mazda: Mazda North American Operations recorded its February sales month since 1994 with 25,651 units sold, representing an increase of 32.3 percent vs. last year. Mazda2 sales totaled 2,701, marking a 210.5 percent year-over-year increase, while Mazda3 sales totaled 11,275 vehicles for a 39.6 percent increase. Mazda 6 reported its best month since March 2008 with 5,101 vehicles sold, a 79.7 percent increase over 2011.

Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz USA reported February sales of 19,679 vehicles, a 21.7 percent improvement over February 2011 and the highest February volume on record. Sales for the month of February were led by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The C-Class led the way with sales of 5,240, up 17 percent over February 2011. The E-Class came in right behind with sales of 4,206 and the M-Class rounded out the top three with sales of 3,408, up 77.1 percent compared to February 2011.

Nissan/Infiniti: Nissan North America Inc. posted February U.S. sales of 106,731 units vs. 92,370 units a year earlier, marking an increase of 15.5 percent. Nissan Division posted a record February with 97,492 sales, an increase of 17.1 percent over the old record of 83,226 units set in 2011. Infiniti delivered 9,239 vehicles in February, an increase of 1 percent vs. 9,144 units a year earlier.

Toyota: Toyota Motor Co. reported monthly sales of 159,423 units in February, a 7.9 percent year-over-year increase on a daily selling rate basis and 12.4 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis. Led by sales of the Camry and Camry Hybrid and the Prius family, the Toyota Division recorded February sales of 142,745 units, an increase of 7 percent vs. the year ago month. The Lexus Division reported sales of 16,678 units, up 15.9 percent over last February.

Volkswagen: Volkswagen of America Inc. realized its best February since 1973 with 30,577 units sold. The company’s performance also represented a 42.5 percent increase vs. a year ago. Sales of the Passat totaled 8,189 units for the month of February, while the Jetta sedan remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 11,694 — its best February ever. The 2012 Beetle sold 1,303 units while the Tiguan sold 2,280 units.

Retail sales rose 11.4 percent in January, with the industry pacing at a 14.18 million seasonally adjusted annual sales rate — the highest rate since the government’s Cash for Clunkers program in August 2009, according to AutoData.

Toyota was the comeback kid, experiencing a 7.5 percent gain from a year ago after suffering through months of declines due to production issues caused by last year’s disasters in Japan and Thailand. At the top of the sales board were Chrysler Group and Volkswagen of America Inc., both brands registering double-digit increases. Mercedes-Benz rounded out January’s top three thanks to strong demand for its SUV and passenger car lineup.

Audi: Audi of America sold 9,354 vehicles in January, a 19.7 percent year-over-year increase from January 2011. The company’s performance marked the best January in Audi of America’s history. Sales of the Audi A6 increased 90 percent over 2011, sales of the Audi Q7 increased 15 percent, and sales of the Audi A7 totaled 643 vehicles.

BMW/MINI: BMW Group reported January sales of 19,739 vehicles, an increase of 5.8 percent from the year-ago month. Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 3.1 percent from last January to 16,405. The best performing vehicles included the X3 SAV, up 56.9 percent to 1,687 units; the 6 Series, up 392.8 percent to 409 units; and the 7 Series, up 56.1 percent to 977 units. MINI USA reported sales of 3,334 automobiles in January, an increase of 21.2 percent from the 2,751 sold in January 2011.

Chrysler: Chrysler Group LLC sold 101,149 units in January, a 44 percent increase vs. January 2011 (70,118 units). The performance marked the group’s best January since 2008. The Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck brands all posted sales gains, led by the Chrysler brand’s 81 percent increase. The group’s 44 percent increase was driven in large part by strong sales of the Chrysler 300, Chrysler 200, and Dodge Charger and Avenger sedans.

Ford: Ford Motor Company sold 136,710 vehicles in January, a 7 percent gain compared with January 2011. Retail sales increased 8 percent. Focus sales were up 60 percent, marking the best January for the model since 2003. Ford brand sales totaled 131,589 vehicles in January, marking the best January sales month for Ford brand since 2008.

GM: General Motors Company sold 167,962 vehicles in January, a 6 percent decrease vs. January 2011. GM’s total passenger car sales increased 3 percent in January, led by a 30-percent increase in sales of fuel-efficient, small and compact cars. The company’s crossover sales decreased 18 percent, and sales of trucks, which include full-size pickups, vans and SUVs, decreased 6 percent. Retail deliveries declined 15 percent year over year.

Honda/Acura: American Honda Motor Co. sold 83,009 in the U.S. in January, an increase of 8.8 percent over January 2011. The Honda Division posted sales of 74,628, an increase of 9.3 percent year over year. Civic sales increased 49.5 percent. The Accord posted sales of 13,659, up 1.5 percent from the same period last year. Acura Division’s January sales totaled 8,381 units, up 5.3 percent year over year.

Hyundai: Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time record January with sales of 42,694 units, up 15 percent vs. 2011. January retail sales were up 19 percent, led by a 13 percent increase in Elantra sales and a 27 percent increase in Genesis/Equus sales.

Mazda: Mazda North American Operations reported its best January since 1994 with U.S. sales of 23,996 vehicles, a 68.2 percent increase vs. last year. Mazda3 sales totaled 9,200 units, an 83.4 percent increase vs. last year. This was the model’s best-ever January. Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 crossover SUV sales were up 32.6 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively, marking the best-ever January for both vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz USA posted a 25.8 percent increase in January, with 21,726 vehicles sold. This was the best January in the company’s history. Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles and SUVs fueled the company’s performance, with the C-Class leading the way with a 56.4 percent increase in sales. The E-Class followed with sales of 4,097, and the M-Class rounded out the Top 3 with sales of 4,002, up 61.1 percent.

Nissan/Infiniti: Nissan North America Inc. reported January sales of 79,313 units, an increase of 10.4 percent vs. last year. Nissan Division sales rose 12.5 percent for the month to 72,517 units, with Versa sales setting a new record with 9,418 deliveries (up 8.5 percent). Sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased 8.2 percent from the prior year to 6,796 units, while sales of the Infiniti QX totaled 1,020, an increase of 30.4 percent vs. last year.

Toyota: Toyota Motor Sales reported monthly sales results of 124,540 units, an increase of 7.5 percent over the year ago month on a daily selling rate (DSR) and unadjusted raw volume basis. Driven by an increase in sales of 2012 Camry and Camry hybrid, Toyota Division posted January sales of 112,266 units, an increase of 9 percent compared to the same period last year. The Lexus Division reported sales of 12,274 units, down 4.6 percent from last January.

Volkswagen: Volkswagen of America Inc. posted 27,209 units sold in January, a 47.9 percent increase compared to the year-ago period. Passat sales totaled 6,318 units, while Jetta sales totaled 9,564 units. Sales of the 2012 Beetle totaled 1,401, while Touareg sales increased 68 percent. Tiguan sales increased 50 percent. The TDI models experienced a 30.2 percent increase vs. 2011.

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.”