Ford says US sales rise 9 percent thanks to trucks

DETROIT (AP) — Ford's U.S. sales rose 9.2 percent in January as higher demand for trucks and SUVs made up for stagnant car sales.

The new Ford Explorer SUV led the increase, as sales climbed 73 percent. The redesigned Explorer went on sale at the end of last year.

Sales of the Edge crossover rose 42 percent.

But Ford's car sales were flat compared with January of 2010, partly because of a 27-percent decline in low-profit sales to rental-car fleets. General Motors Co. also reduced fleet sales in January.

Ford Motor Co. sales were up despite the discontinuation of the Mercury brand. Ford sold only 248 Mercurys in January, more than 5,000 fewer