U.S. consumers bought 13 percent fewer new cars and trucks during the first 12 days of March, a disappointing sign for automakers as they enter the important spring selling season, according to a survey released Monday.
J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network said every major automaker, aside from BMW AG, posted a decline in retail sales during the period. The survey tracks sales at more than 10,000 dealers nationwide and doesn't include sales to fleet customers.
Detroit's automakers fared worse than their top competitors. The Chrysler Group's sales fell 14 percent, and General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. fell 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively, according to the Power Information Network.
GM's retail market share fell to 21.3 percent from 23 percent before its new "March Madness" incentive program began.
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