Gas-electric hybrid cars reach record sales

DETROIT (AP) -- Though overall sales results were mixed for automakers in April, high fuel prices helped contribute to record sales for gas-electric hybrid cars.
Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. vehicle sales were off an unexpectedly sharp 4.6 percent in April from a year ago as an aging car lineup continued to hamper business.
The nation's second-largest automaker said passenger car sales declined 8.8 percent last month from April 2003, while truck sales dropped 2.4 percent.
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group saw sales rise 1 percent last month -- slightly better than some forecasts. Light-truck sales, which include pickups, minivans and SUVS, rose 3 percent, offsetting a 5 percent decline on the car side.
A computer glitch forced General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, to postpone its April sales report until today.
Among foreign automakers, Toyota Motor Corp. reported its eighth consecutive best April, helped in part by strong demand for its gas-electric hybrid Prius sedan. Toyota's U.S. sales were up 10 percent for the month.
Honda Motor Co., the only other automaker selling a hybrid vehicle on the U.S. retail market, said its Civic hybrid posted a second consecutive month of record sales. So far this year, Honda has sold 9,023 Civic hybrids, 11 percent more than at this point last year.