Toyota Motor Corp. said combined sales of the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands increased 4.3 percent to 166,377 units. Volume rose 4 percent at Lexus. At the Toyota division, truck sales – buoyed by the Venza, Highlander and RAV4 – advanced 16 percent while car sales slipped 3 percent, reflecting a rare dip in Camry and Prius deliveries.

Honda Motor Co. blamed winter storms in the Northeast for a 2 percent decline in its sales last month. At the Honda division, volume dropped 2 percent, while sales edged up 1 percent at Acura.

Sales of such SUVs as RAV4 helped buoy Toyota's February sales. (photo: Toyota)

Nissan Motor Co., hurt by a slump in car and fleet deliveries, reported a 7 percent drop, its fourth monthly decline since September.

Volkswagen AG said sales of VW-brand light vehicles rose 3 percent, its smallest monthly gain since January 2011, when volume edged up 2 percent.

Chrysler Group, led by a 32 percent surge in car deliveries, posted a 4 percent February increase, its smallest monthly gain in nearly three years. Sales rose 30 percent at the Dodge brand, and 2 percent at Ram and Fiat. But volume slipped 7 percent at the Chrysler brand and 16 percent at Jeep, where sales have fallen five months in a row.

Still, Chrysler's U.S. sales have increased 35 consecutive months, matching a streak that ended in December 1994.

Even with the modest lift in February sales -- the smallest monthly gain for the industry since volume rose 2 percent in April 2012 -- automakers remain bullish on the remainder of the year.
Analysts expect 2013 U.S. light-vehicle sales to grow at a slower pace and reach 15 million to 15.5 million units.

Executives with several automakers also downplayed the threat to industry sales from automatic government spending cuts designed to reduce the nation's budget deficit.

"People quite frankly have become completely numb to that whole budget issue," Al Castignetti, Nissan's vice president of U.S. sales, told Bloomberg. "Consumer confidence is on the rise. People are taking advantage of the low interest rates."

Low finance rates, more attractive lease offers and easing credit terms are also the primary reasons auto sales have rebounded faster than other segments of the U.S. economy, analysts say.

Demand for pickups and other light trucks was particularly healthy last month despite the recent jump in gasoline prices. Kelley Blue Book says Detroit automakers offered up to $5,000 in cash rebates on full-sized pickups last month.

This story originally appeared at Autoweek.com.