ALEXANDRIA, Va. -

Import automakers saw their April sales climb double digits on a year-over-year basis, with particularly strong sales being spotted in the smaller segments, according to the American International Automobile Dealers Association.

Citing statistics from AutoData Corp., AIADA indicated that import brands moved 619,629 units during April, a 14.7-percent hike from the year-ago period, although down 12.3 percent from March.

So far this year, import sales have climbed 18.3 percent with numbers through April coming in at 2.3 million units.

“As gas prices continue to climb, international nameplate dealers are seeing increased interest in their most fuel efficient vehicles,” stated AIADA president Cody Lusk. “We expect to see a gradual but steady recovery throughout 2011.”

Breaking it down by brand, AIADA pointed to some of the heaviest improvements among import brands, including Hyundai, whose April sales jumped 40.3 percent year-over-year. Kia’s sales jumped 56.7 percent, and Volkswagen made a 23.4-percent leap.

The overwhelming majority of import brands saw their sales increase on a year-over-year basis, with one notable exception among major brands being Lexus’ 4.3-percent decline.

Looking at market share, domestics brands took 46.5 percent of the market, while Asian brands grabbed a 44.9-percent share. European OEMs were at 8.6 percent.

For the third straight month, import brands accounted for six of the month’s 10 best-selling vehicles, including the Toyota Camry/Solara. This vehicle claimed the No. 2 spot with 30,443 units sold, pushing the Chevrolet Silverado down to No. 3 after it previously held the second-place slot.

The following charts from AIADA illustrate the month’s trends in further detail:

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