The US automotive market appears to be relatively flat according to the latest sales figures from a range of the top manufacturers.

Volkswagen said that US car sales for its core VW brand had stayed largely the same in April, with 25,667 vehicles being sold in comparison to 25,412 in the previous year.

Similarly, Chrysler Group's US sales moved little, edging up one per cent in April.
The firm said it sold 189,011 vehicles last month, compared with 187,086 a year earlier.

The figures point to a stabilising of sales in the key market, which some analysts say augurs well in light of the problems experienced in recent years.

In 2003 automotive sales in the US dropped to their lowest level in five years, with the rate of decline at least now arrested.

In addition, where there was some movement in April's figures, it charted an upward trajectory.

Audi reported a rise in sales of 17 per cent, while German premium carmaker BMW said its US sales had also risen.

The manufacturer said that US car sales rose by 10.7 per cent year-on-year in April to 26,709 units.