FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –

AutoNation had its strongest December for total retail new-vehicle sales in 12 years and posted its best annual sum in six years, the retailer said Monday.

It retailed 29,596 new cars last month, which was up 6-percent year-over-year and the best December since 2001. Meanwhile, full-year new-vehicle retail sales were up 11 percent at 296,419 units sold, AutoNation’s best annual figure since 2007.

(With regards to December being a 12-year best and the annual sum being a six-year high, AutoNation said in a disclaimer note that the respective comparisons are “to prior total retail new vehicle unit sales recorded in accordance with GAAP on a continuing operations basis.”)

Meanwhile, AutoNation retailed 77,964 new cars in the fourth quarter for a 9-percent year-over-year improvement.

The operating segment in which AutoNation saw the most growth in December, the fourth quarter and in full-year results was the premium luxury class. (The company’s other operating segments are domestic and import.)

December new-car luxury total retail sales climbed 18 percent at 7,180 units.  For the fourth quarter, the dealer group moved 18,256 premium luxury units, a 15-percent gain.

The full-year 2013 figure was 58,538 premium luxury units sold, a 16-percent gain.
 

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