DETROIT – June proved to be a good month for Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, with all three reporting increased sales on several popular fleet models.

Chrysler Group LLC reported U.S. sales of 144,811 units in June, a 20-percent increase compared with sales in June 2011 (120,394 units), and the automaker’s best June sales since 2007.

Notable sales increases for fleet-ype vehicles included the Ram pickup truck, which increased 12 percent over same time last year and the Ram 1500 pickup, which experienced an 18-percent increase. Even more of an improvement over last year was the Ram Cargo Van, designed for small businesses and commercial fleets, which posted a 272-percent increase in June compared with sales in the previous month of May, according to Chrysler.

GM reported fleet deliveries were up 36 percent versus a year ago, due in part to the timing of customer deliveries, according to the company sales report. Overall, June sales totaled 248,750 vehicles in the U.S., up 16 percent year over year and the company’s highest sales since September 2008. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac all reported double-digit increases.

As far as passenger vehicles, the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse helped the segment achieve a 12-percent improvement versus last year, thanks to a 32-percent increase in Malibu sales and a 21-percent increase in Buick LaCrosse sales.

In addition, combined sales of all seven Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac crossovers were up 30 percent versus a year ago, and truck sales were up 11 percent, with all pickup, van, and SUV segments up year over year.

In July, however, GM said in its June sales report that it expects fleet volumes and mix to be down month over month and year over year.

Ford’s U.S. sales are also up 7 percent so far this year, with 207,759 vehicles sold in June.

Sales increased across the company’s lineup – with cars up 3 percent, utilities up 9 percent, and trucks up 9 percent year to date.

In June, the Escape set an any-month record – with sales up 28 percent – while the Ford Fusion set a record for June. Explorer sales were up 35 percent from last year, and F-Series sales are up 11 percent and topped 50,000 for the first June in five years, according to the automaker.

Fusion has posted four months in a row of sales records, including its best June result ever with 24,433 vehicles sold – a 17-percent increase from last year. In the first half of this year, Fusion sales are up over last year’s record first half by 4 percent, with 136,849 vehicles sold.

By Grace Suizo