By TOM KRISHER and DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Auto Writers
DETROIT – All major automakers but Toyota reported strong U.S. sales increases in November as the auto industry’s slow-motion recovery continued to gain traction.
Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Hyundai and Honda all reported double-digit increases, and only Toyota, which has been hurt by a string of safety recalls, had a sales drop. Overall, according to Autodata Corp., U.S. sales last month rose 17 percent from November 2009, a month marked by consumer paralysis due to high unemployment.
The November performance helped an industry that is trying to recover from last year’s historic lows as credit froze up and two major automakers slid through bankruptcy court. Sales started the year with promise, peaked in May as consumer confidence rose, fell off during the summer and now have started to rebound.