GM's US auto sales rise 7.5% in August; Ford's dip 2.1%

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General Motors Co on Friday reported a 7.5 percent increase in U.S. auto sales in August, helped by robust sales of crossovers across its four brands.

GM's smaller rival Ford Motor Co reported a 2.1 percent decline in U.S. auto sales for the month, led by a 11.3 percent fall in sales of sport utility vehicles. The auto sales decline was the smallest in three months for Ford.

Shares of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV were up 2 to 4 percent in morning trading.

"Hurricane Harvey did have an adverse effect on deliveries during the last week of August for every automaker but the key U.S. economic fundamentals remain supportive of strong vehicle sales," GM Chief Economist Mustafa Mohatarem said in a statement.

GM's U.S. vehicle sales rose to 275,552 units in August from 256,429, a year earlier.

Ford reported U.S. sales of 209,897 vehicles in the month, compared with 214,482, a year earlier.

Fiat Chrysler's U.S. vehicle sales fell 11 percent to 176,033 units.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)