Certified Used-Vehicle sales for Saturn totaled 21,728 units in the first seven months of 2003, 125.9 percent more than the 9,619 sold in the same period in 2002.

Carmakers like certified sales because they help raise off-lease residual values, support new-car prices, and attract new customers to the brand.

The sales increase is largely due to increased new-car sales of the Vue SUV and the Ion entry-level sedan, according to Saturn spokesman Mike Gardner. He added that increased new-vehicle sales have given dealers a number of trade-ins, buoying used-vehicle sales.

Overall, according to data compiled by Autodata Corp., a market research firm in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, domestic manufacturers sold 885,531 certified used cars and trucks through July, 24.5 percent more sold than during the same period in 2002.