US car sales posted a 28 percent rise in October, exceeding expectations to give one of the best months of the past two years.

Figures released by automakers November 2/3 show that US car buyers were out in force in October, pushing sales to the highest levels since August 2009, when the cash-for-clunkers program was still going strong.

Among the big winners were Hyundai-Kia Automotive, which showed a strong 38 percent rise in sales according to Automotive News.

Subaru was also also up, along with Mitsubishi, although both were outperformed by a staggering 61 percent leap in Porsche sales.

General Motors sold a total of 183,543 vehicles, a four percent rise which was overshadowed by Ford's 15 percent jump to 157,650 vehicles.

Toyota, Honda and Chrysler also held their respective places, with Toyota the only of the big five US automakers to post a sales decline for the month.

The most popular automakers in the US - October 2010
Data from Automotive News

1. General Motors
2. Ford
3. Toyota
4. Honda (American)
5. Chrysler

http://www.autonews.com