UPDATE | Great GM sales report; Cruze sales continue to cruise

DETROIT — General Motors Co. dealers delivered 284,694 vehicles in the United States in May, up 13 percent compared to a year ago, marking the company’s best May in seven years and its best total sales since August 2008, according to a press release issued on the company's website.

Sales of the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze were up 41 percent to 32,393 in the month of May compared to last year.

For the month, Chevrolet sales were up 14 percent in total, driven by a 26 percent increase in car deliveries.

Retail sales — vehicles sold to individual buyers — were up 10 percent while fleet sales were up 21 percent.

Sales of the Chevrolet Corvette more than tripled, while GMC Sierra pickup truck sales rose 14 percent.

Chrysler’s U.S. sales jumped 17 percent, boosted by strong demand for the new Jeep Cherokee small SUV. Chrysler said its Jeep brand sales jumped 58 percent and set an all-time monthly sales record, with 70,203 vehicles sold in May.

Nissan’s U.S. sales jumped 19 percent over last May as buyers snapped up the new Sentra small car and Rogue SUV.

Other automakers are set to report sales later Tuesday.

— Staff and wire sources