Chrysler and Ford kept up the recent momentum in US car sales in March.
The two firms reported solid advances from a year ago as high petrol prices drove consumers to more fuel-efficient models.
Chrysler Group, controlled by Italy's Fiat, said vehicle sales in the US in March surged by 34% to 21,730 units, the highest level since March 2008.
The Fiat brand sales skyrocketed a record 642% on a 12-month basis.
The March numbers marked the 24th consecutive month of year-over-year gains and the 10th month running of rises above 20% for Chrysler, the smallest of the Big Three US car makers.
The March sales surge was driven by the Chrysler brand, up 70% from March 2011.
Sales improved for all five of Chrysler's Jeep brand models, led by a 46% jump in Jeep Liberty sales, while Dodge brand sales rose 18%.
"The combination of credit availability, an improving economy, pent-up demand and even high fuel prices encouraging people to acquire newer more fuel-efficient vehicles are all helping to drive industry sales," said Reid Bigland, president and chief executive of Dodge Brand and head of US Sales, in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Fiat brand sales skyrocketed a record 642% on a 12-month basis. The Fiat 500, sporting Italian design and fuel efficiency, was launched in the US in March last year.
Ford posted a 5% rise in sales over March 2011, with sales of 223,418 vehicles, its strongest sales performance since 2007. The number two US car maker said the fuel-efficient Focus was its hottest-selling car, with sales up 78% and setting an all-time sales record of 28,562 units.
