DETROIT (AP) — 2012 is already looking like a winner for automakers -- just one month into the year. U.S. sales of new cars and trucks rose 11 percent to 913,287 in January. New models, low interest rates and better loan availability helped buyers overcome lingering worries about the economy and pushed the sales pace to its highest level since the Cash for Clunkers recycling program in August 2009.
2012 already looks like a winner for automakers; sales up 11%