Brazil auto sales up 16.5 pct in Dec v. Nov-source

SAO PAULO Jan 4 (Reuters) - New automobile sales in Brazil jumped about 16.5 percent in December from November, a source with access to the data told Reuters on Monday.

Sales surged about 51.1 percent over the year-earlier period, the source added.

Brazil's national dealers' association, Fenabrave, is slated to release the official data on Tuesday.

Brazil is a major market for global automakers such as Italy's Fiat SpA (FIA.MI), Germany's Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE), and U.S.-based General Motors Co [GM.UL] and Ford Motor Co (F.N). (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr.; Writing by Luciana Lopez; Editing by Derek Caney)