DETROIT, MI  (WKZO) --    Chrysler sales were up 10% in December, and 21% for the year. GM sales were up almost five percent last month.  Ford gained nearly two percent.  U.S. automakers are posting strong sales for 2012.  Overall, the auto industry is expected to top total sales of 14.5 million units for the year.

Automotive News Editor Keith Crane says that's an increase of more than 13 percent over 2011, marking the industry's best year since 2007.  The Japanese brands did even better, but their sales in 2011 were depressed by that year’s Tsunami.