Higher gas prices propel strong small car sales at Ford and GM

Ford Focus, Chevy Sonic and Cruze get boost

DETROIT – Pain at the pump for consumers is turning into pumped up sales for small cars and compacts at Ford and General Motors.

Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales rose 14 percent in February thanks to big demand for its Focus compact car.

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Focus sales more than doubled over last February to 23,350. It was the best February for the Focus in 12 years.

Ford's U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay said higher gas prices increased demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles in the second half of the month. The Escape, Ford's small SUV, also saw sales rise 4 percent.

Over at General Motors, small car sales were up 43% with the Chevy Cruze surpassing 20,000 units for the month, a 10% increase over Feb. 2010.  Sales of the Lake Orion built Chevy Sonic had its best month ever with deliveries of 7,900 cars.

Deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt more than tripled after weak sales in December and January.

Overall, GM said its sales "beat expectations" with a 1.1 percent increase over a strong February 2011.  Sales held in spite of incentives shrinking by nearly one-third.

Many of Ford's other cars saw sales declines, including the Fiesta subcompact and Fusion and Taurus sedans. The newer Focus might have grabbed sales from those cars.

Truck sales were strong thanks to cash-back offers and other incentives. Ford said F-Series pickup sales were up 26 percent.

GM Silverado sales by comparison were up just 1.8% for the month.

More troubling, sales at Buick were off 11.3% and Cadillac was down 27%.Â