US auto sales rose by 13 per cent on a year-on-year basis during February, despite snowy conditions keeping some consumers away from showrooms.

All the major automakers reported higher sales throughout the country, apart from Toyota, which suffered a nine per cent contraction due to its recent safety recalls.

Ford saw sales rise by 43 per cent and some analysts believe that it is now poised to overtake its Japanese rival as the world's largest automaker in terms of sales.

Meanwhile, General Motors (GM) posted a 12 per cent sales increase, with even troubled Chrysler - the other member of the Detroit 'Big Three' - recording a 0.5 per cent leap.

The other major winners were Honda, Hyundai and Nissan, which managed to achieve improvements of 13 per cent, 11 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

Key Banc Analyst Brett Hoselton told Reuters: "We believe that sales in both January and February were much better than they could have been given weather-related issues, Toyota recalls, and seasonally weak demand.

"We continue to expect the overall trend in sales to move gradually higher throughout 2010 and into 2011."

In China, which overtook the US last year as the world's largest auto market, auto sales were up by 45 per cent to 881,085 units in February, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

However, this figure compares unfavourably with the group's reported transaction levels in January, when 1.22 million cars were sold, representing a year-on-year increase of 84 per cent.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers painted a more positive picture, suggesting that passenger-car sales jumped by 55 per cent to 942,900 units, while total vehicle sales were up by 46 per cent to 1.21 million.

An extension of the economic stimulus package in Beijing and buyers' eagerness to purchase vehicles prior to the Lunar New Year both contributed to this rise, the body noted.

GM enjoyed a particularly strong month in the country, with sales surging by 51 per cent to 174,306 vehicles on the back of economic growth and government stimulus measures.

"The continued strong market demand portends another record year for both the industry and GM in China in 2010," Kevin Wale, Head of GM China, told Bloomberg.

Moving to Europe, the VDIK foreign carmaker association revealed that Germany saw sales shrink by 29.8 per cent in February, representing the third straight month of declines.

The slump in the continent's largest auto market can be explained by the government incentives for new buyers expiring recently, particularly impacting on mini and compact car sales.

However, there was better news in the UK, where new car registrations increased by 26.4 per cent during the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A total of 68,686 vehicles were registered, with private buyers leading the way as they capitalise on the government's scrappage scheme.

"Scrappage has generated eight consecutive months of growth," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

The positive trend also continued in France, where sales were up by 18 per cent in February, representing the tenth consecutive month of increases for the country.

In Spain, automakers' association Anfac confirmed that new vehicle registrations surged by 47 per cent during the month on the back of government subsidies for buyers.

"Solid demand is due to the continuation of the Plan 2000E by the national and regional governments," said the group in a statement.

Strong results were also witnessed in Italy - where sales leapt by 20.6 per cent to 200,560 units - but analysts have expressed concern about the stability of the market in the longer term.

Italian foreign carmakers' group UNRAE suggested that "terrible conditions" are impending after February orders slumped by almost 35 per cent from the same month in 2009.

Indeed, all European countries where government subsidies have been in place are expected to struggle to attract buyers into showrooms when the incentives come to an end.

Elsewhere, the Japan Automobile Dealers' Association revealed that auto sales in Japan increased by 35.1 per cent to 294,887 units on a year-on-year basis during the month.

The figure, which constitutes the seventh consecutive monthly improvement, can largely be attributed to the country's own tax breaks for anyone purchasing low-emission cars.

Despite Toyota's safety travails, the body confirmed that the company's domestic sales rose by 47.9 per cent as the product recalls have not yet been factored into the total.

"Sales in February mostly reflect solid orders received previously, probably in September or October," a spokesman at the association told the Wall Street Journal.

In Canada, 100,243 vehicles were sold last month, which was a 24.9 per cent rise from February 2009 and the third straight monthly rise, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.

Despite Toyota's safety recall being factored into the Canadian figures, the company still posted a sales rise of 25.2 per cent, while Ford overtook GM and Chrysler as top automaker in the country.

A similarly impressive performance was registered in South Africa, where new vehicle sales for the first two months of 2010 increased by 18 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

Brand Pretorius, Chief Executive of retail vehicle group McCarthy, told Engineering News that the figure is a sign that the South African economy is emerging from its first recession for 17 years.

Finally, national automakers' association Anfavea announced that auto sales in Brazil hit 221,000 units, representing a 3.6 per cent rise from January and a 10.8 per cent leap from 12 months earlier.

The group also revealed that output in the country increased by 2.8 per cent from the previous month and 23.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis, reaching a total of 253,200 units.

Sources:

Feb. US auto sales plow ahead despite snow, Toyota (02/03/10)

U.S. auto sales weak (02/03/10)

GM China February Sales Jump More-Than-Expected 51% (03/03/10)

German new car sales drop 29.8 pct in Feb-VDIK (02/03/10)

UK car sales see continued recovery (04/03/10)

Japan Feb New Vehicle Sales +35.1% Y/Y, Up 7th Months In Row (01/03/10)

Japan Auto Sales Data Don't Reflect Toyota Recall (01/03/10)

French New Car Sales Jump 18% in February in 10th Straight Gain (01/03/10)

Europe car sales up in Feb., but tough times ahead (01/03/10)

Spanish Feb cars sales rise 47 pct-ANFAC (01/03/10)

Canadian auto sales surge in February, Toyota up (02/03/10)

South Africa: Vehicle sales continue growth path; Toyota holds steady (02/03/10)

Brazil Feb auto output, sales jump vs year ago (04/03/10)

China February Car Sales Rise 55Percent on Stimulus (09/03/10)

© Adfero Ltd