By John Porretto
The Associated Press

DETROIT - Americans' appetites for gas-slurping pickups and sport utility vehicles boosted business for several automakers last month, even as high fuel prices helped contribute to record sales for gas-electric hybrid cars.

Ford Motor Co.'s overall sales for April were below expectations, the company said Monday, while DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group performed slightly better than expected. A computer glitch forced General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, to postpone its April sales report until today.

Among foreign automakers, Toyota Motor Corp. reported its eighth consecutive best-ever April, helped in part by strong demand for its gas-electric hybrid Prius sedan. Toyota's U.S. sales were up 10 percent for the month. Toyota's North American manufacturing headquarters is in Erlanger.

Honda Motor Co., the only other automaker selling a hybrid vehicle on the U.S. retail market, said its Civic hybrid posted a second consecutive month of record sales. So far this year, Honda has sold 9,023 Civic hybrids, 11 percent more than at this point last year. Honda has a manufacturing plant in Marysville, Ohio.

Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. arm also had another positive month, up 14 percent behind solid sales of its new Titan full-size pickup and Armada full-size SUV.

"The industry is benefiting from a healthy first-quarter economy," said Jim Press, chief operating officer of Toyota's U.S. division. "Despite rising fuel prices, economic indicators such as gross domestic product, employment and consumer spending were all up, giving a boost to April automotive sales."

Industrywide, analysts predicted sales of new cars and trucks would be up 3 percent to 5 percent in April, helped in part by ongoing incentives and consumers spending tax refunds.

However, the final industry tally for April will not be available until today. GM postponed its report by a day after what it called a "major failure" Friday with its vehicle delivery reporting system.

GM sales were expected to rise in April, in line with projected gains for the overall industry.

Ford's U.S. vehicle sales were off an unexpectedly sharp 4.6 percent in April from a year ago as an aging car lineup continued to hamper business. The nation's second-largest automaker said passenger car sales declined 8.8 percent last month from April 2003, while truck sales dropped 2.4 percent. Most analysts predicted sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands to be flat to down slightly.

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On the Net:

Ford Motor Co.: http://www.ford.com

General Motors Corp.: http://www.gm.com

DaimlerChrysler: www.daimlerchrysler.com