New 2011 models are flying out of dealer showrooms, including the Chevrolet Cruze, which became the best-selling car in America in June. Across town, Chrysler is back on the map with the Grand Cherokee. And Ford's gamble on a redo of the iconic Explorer as a more fuel-efficient crossover is paying off, too.
Ford Motor Sales
Explorer: The 65,823 Explorers sold in the first six months exceeds the 60,687 sold in all of 2010. Ford gambled when it redid its trademark SUV as a car-based crossover, believing consumers would forego ruggedness for better fuel economy. It appears to be paying off.
Fiesta: Ford's reintroduction of a subcompact to the U.S. market has been met with resounding success: More than 42,000 were sold in the first six months.
Focus: With the third generation of this high-volume car just hitting the market, consumers are buying the new model as fast as Ford can build them. June sales spiked more than 41 percent.
General Motors Sales
Buick Regal: The Regal was a blip in the market last year but is roaring back, thanks to this new version. It sold 22,000 units from January through June, compared with 471 for the same period last year.
Chevrolet Cruze: The Cruze went on sale last fall, showing that GM can compete in the high-volume compact segment. GM sold almost 125,000 Cruzes in the first half of the year; with nearly 25,000 sold in June, it became the top-selling car in the U.S. for the first time.
Chevrolet Volt: This is the poster child for the new GM and leads the hybrid-electric vehicle segment with its cutting-edge technology. Launched late last year, the Volt sold 2,745 units in the first six months of 2011, including 561 in June.
