FORD sales jump; outsells GM…

DETROIT (AP) – Ford Motor Co. outsold General Motors Co. in February for the first time in more than a decade.

Ford sold 334 more cars than GM in the U.S. It was the first time since August 1998 that Ford outsold GM.

Ford’s said Tuesday its sales jumped 43 percent thanks to strong demand for its cars. The automaker grabbed some sales from Toyota, which is struggling with a massive safety recall.

Ford said it saw renewed demand from rental-car companies and other corporate fleets, which are buying again after weak sales in 2009. Ford’s fleet sales surged 74 percent over February of last year.

Ford had expected sales to climb from last February, when U.S. sales plummeted in the midst of the recession.

Ford says car sales climbed 54 percent as consumers continued to shop for more fuel-efficient vehicles.