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In this combo made with file photos, logos for the Big Three automobile manufacturers, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, are shown.The Associated Press

Chrysler Group LLC's and Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. sales in September rose 19 per cent, beating the average of analyst estimates, while Ford Motor Co. narrowly missed. All three reported increasing sales of sport-utility vehicles.

Jeep SUV deliveries climbed 47 per cent at Chrysler, while Nissan reported a 52 per cent jump in sales of Rogue SUVs. Utility vehicles were the only segment in which Ford reported a gain. Chrysler, owned by Turin, Italy-based Fiat SpA, said total sales advanced to 169,890, marking the third-largest U.S. automaker's 54th consecutive monthly increase.

The Jeep brand's winning streak has now lasted 12 consecutive months, helped by the Cherokee, which sold 14,639, the brand's top-selling model, surpassing Wrangler and Grand Cherokee for the first time. Through August, total SUV and crossover vehicle U.S. sales had risen 12 per cent, outpacing a car-sales gain of 1.2 per cent and overall light vehicle sales of 5.1 per cent, according to researcher Autodata.

"They took the Jeep formula and applied it to the hottest segment," Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader.com, said in an interview. "It's a winner, because it's a unique proposition in that segment."

Analysts had estimated a 16 per cent gain for Chrysler, on average and 17 per cent for Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan, which reported 102,955 deliveries. Total light-vehicle sales are forecast to increase 9.9 per cent from a year earlier to 1.25 million, in a month with one more selling day than last year, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Ford's sales of cars and light trucks fell 2.7 per cent, compared with the 2.4 per cent decline projected by analysts.

Despite the decline in total deliveries, Ford had a record September for sales of its Fusion sedan, which rose 8.6 per cent to 21,693, and its Explorer mid-size SUV had its best September since 2006, rising 0.8 per cent to 13,770. Sales of the Lincoln Navigator large SUV rose 24 per cent to 1,013.

Sales of F-Series pickups, Ford's top-selling and most– profitable product line, fell 1 per cent to 59,863. Ford's truck production is constrained because it shut one of its two F– Series factories at the end of August to convert it to build a new aluminum-bodied version going on sale later this year.

Chrysler forecast an annualized sales pace for the market in September of 16.6 million, including medium– and heavy-duty trucks that typically account for at least 200,000 annual sales. Analysts had estimated a pace of 16.5 million light vehicles, up from 15.4 million a year earlier.

Chrysler benefited from a 30 per cent increase in sales of Ram pickups as the brand, aided by its new ProMaster work van, reported a 35 per cent jump for the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based group. That helped make up for a 7 per cent drop in car deliveries.

General Motors Co., the nation's largest automaker, was projected to post an 18 per cent increase, and Honda Motor Co. to rise 15 per cent, according to the averages of analyst estimates. Toyota Motor Corp.'s deliveries may increase 7.5 per cent, according to the survey.

This month, Chrysler will officially combine with Fiat to create the world's seventh-largest automaker. Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer for both companies, took control of Chrysler after its 2009 bankruptcy. Marchionne then ordered an overhaul of the automaker's lineup. Chrysler has since introduced a well-received redesign of Jeep's Grand Cherokee, as well as a smaller, less expensive Cherokee.

Chrysler also redesigned it's Ram pickup, which was selected by journalists as 2013 North American Truck of the Year.

This year through September, sales rose 45 per cent for Jeep and 22 per cent for Ram pickups.

"Chrysler Group sales continue to demonstrate strength as we recorded our seventh month of double-digit growth this year," Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales, said in a statement.

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