GM’s Domestic Sales Rise 4% in March

General Motors Corp. said its U.S. sales increased 4% last month from March 1996, when the auto maker’s results were hurt by an 18-day strike at two brake plants. GM’s car sales were up 0.6%, while sales of trucks increased 9.2%. Production of pickups was most affected by the March 1996 strike, and pickups helped boost last month’s increase. But even without the strike-related production loss last year, March truck sales would have increased 1.5%, GM said. Chrysler Corp. reported that its sales declined 3% last month. Among Japanese auto makers, Honda Motor Co. said its sales in the U.S. fell nearly 7%, Mazda Motor Corp.’s fell 23.2%, and Nissan Motor Co. saw an 18.8% increase in its U.S. sales. Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. are scheduled to report their sales today.