AFP - Ford Motor Co. posted a 17 percent jump in US sales in August fueled in part by the popular government-funded "Cash for Clunkers" program, the automaker said Tuesday.
   
The substantial improvement follows an increase of 2.3 percent in July -- Ford's first year-on-year gain since November 2007.
   
The company said it had managed to boost retail market share in 10 of the last 11 months despite last year's collapse in sales to levels not seen in decades.
   
The second largest US automaker reported a 21 percent increase in August retail sales for its core Lincoln, Mercury and Ford brands.
   
Total sales including lower-margin fleet sales rose to 176,323 from 151,021 in August 2008. Year-to-date sales, however, were down 24 percent at 1.1 million vehicles.
   
"We have the freshest line-up of new products in the industry," said Ken Czubay, the auto giant's vice president for US marketing, sales and service.
   
"Ford's leadership in quality, fuel-efficiency, safety and technology -- all are resonating with consumers, and it is being reflected in our sales results."
   
The company said its more fuel efficient vehicles -- the Focus and hybrid versions of the Fusion and Milan sedans and Escape and Mariner sport utility vehicles -- had posted record sales.
   
The three billion dollar "Cash-for-Clunkers" program enacted by the US government sparked nearly 700,000 auto sales driven by trade-in incentives before it expired last week.
   
The "clunkers" plan offered owners of aging cars and trucks incentives of up to 4,500 dollars toward a new, more-efficient vehicle, a scheme meant to help boost the struggling auto industry while helping the environment.