AutoNation Inc. Posts 12% December Sales Growth

AutoNation Inc.

posted December sales growth of 12 percent Tuesday along with same-store sales growth for new vehicles of 10 percent. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based company sold 33,069 new vehicles in December, including an 11 percent increase of domestic brands to 9,497 units. Sales of imported brands grew 6 percent to 14,721 units. Luxury brands increased 23 percent to 8,851 units. For the fourth-quarter, same-store sales increased 7 percent and total sales grew 9 percent to 84,968 units. For the full year, same-store sales increased 6 percent while total sales grew 8 percent to 320,804 units. Separately, Chief Executive Michael J. Jackson told CNBC TV that total U.S. auto sales will exceed 17 million units in 2015. U.S. vehicle sales in 2014 totaled about 16.5 million units, up nearly 6 percent from a year earlier. AutoNation changed hands recently at $59.77, up $0.56.