By AP
DETROIT –
General Motors says its U.S. sales rose 10 percent in June as lower gas prices brought more customers into its showrooms.
The Detroit car company says it sold 215,000 cars and trucks last month.
Sales were led by smaller, more fuel-efficient models, but GM says cheaper gas also lured more truck buyers. Chevrolet Silverado sales rose 5 percent and GMC Sierra sales rose 8 percent compared with a year earlier.
The new Chevrolet Cruze compact led GM's sales gain. Cruze sales were more than double those of the old Chevrolet Cobalt. GM's small-car sales were helped by earthquake-related shortages of Japanese cars.
GM is one of the first car companies to report U.S. sales on Friday. Industry analysts expect overall U.S. sales to rise 13.5 percent from last June.