GM the exception in Canada June auto sales rise

TORONTO (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler Canada DCXGn.DE cruised to its 11th straight monthly sales increase in June, a month in which sales rose at all companies that make cars in Canada except for General Motors GM.N, company and analyst figures showed on Wednesday.

DaimlerChrysler said its Canadian vehicle sales jumped 24.1 percent to 22,029.

The automaker -- which on Wednesday introduced an employee-pricing program on most of its 2007 models -- sold 5,607 cars and 16,422 trucks last month.

Ford Motor Co. of Canada (F.N) sales rose to 25,439 vehicles, up 0.6 percent from 25,282 in the same month of 2006, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers.

GM, Canada's biggest automaker, said it sold 42,466 vehicles in June, down 6.3 percent from the same month last year. Car sales of 20,455, down 16.3 percent, dragged on overall performance, while truck sales climbed 5.5 percent to 22,011.

Both Toyota Canada Inc. (7203.T) and Honda Canada Inc. (7267.T) reported strong sales increases.

Toyota continued to build market share against its rivals, selling 20,611 vehicles in June, up 11.3 percent.

Honda said its June sales were up 16 percent at 16,907, due in part to record sales of its Civic and Fit models.