Chevrolet's Cavalier sales remain strong

Sales continue to be strong for the Chevrolet Cavalier as it begins its last model year.
General Motors Corp. said Tuesday that it sold 18,354 Cavaliers in November, which was a 53 percent increase over November 2002. The Cavalier was GM's top-selling car last month.
In October, Cavalier sales were up 55 percent. For the first 11 months of this year, sales are up 7 percent at 234,888.
The 2004 model year is the last for the Cavalier, which GM makes at its Lordstown Assembly Plant. The Cavalier will be replaced next fall for the 2005 model year by a new model, the Chevrolet Cobalt.
The Lordstown plant also produces the Pontiac Sunfire, which had sales of 3,410 last month. That was a 60 percent increase over November 2002. Starting next year, Pontiac will replace the Sunfire with the Pursuit, which will be sold only in Canada.
November sales
November was a strong month overall for GM. Dealers sold 363,181 new cars and trucks, which was a 22 percent increase over the same month last year.
GM's biggest-selling vehicle was the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Its sales of 47,599 were up 22 percent over November 2002.
Ford reported a sales gain of less than 1 percent, while DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group posted a 3 percent gain.