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By Bloomberg

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV kept its sales- gain streak alive with U.S. deliveries rising 6.2 percent in July as buyers snapped up Jeep sport utility vehicles, Chrysler 200 family sedans and Ram pickups. Nissan Motor Co. also beat estimates.

Fiat Chrysler’s North American unit delivered 178,027 vehicles in the U.S. last month, topping the 4.8 percent average analyst prediction compiled by Bloomberg. The group has reported 64 straight monthly increases. Nissan’s July U.S. auto sales rose 7.8 percent, beating the average estimate for a 5.3 percent gain. Industrywide sales may top forecasts, as well.

U.S. consumers are choosing SUVs and pickups, taking advantage of relatively cheap lending terms and gasoline prices. This surge in demand for profitable light trucks plays to the strength of Fiat Chrysler, which gets most of its sales from pickups, SUVs and vans.

“Strong demand for crossovers such as Rogue and Murano drove Nissan’s overall light-truck sales up 22 percent and set a July record for the company,” said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, U.S. sales and marketing and operations.

Japan’s second-largest automaker by global sales reported July records for the company and for the Nissan brand, which reported sales of crossovers, trucks and sport-utility vehicles rose 22 percent. Sales of its luxury Infiniti brand rose 22 percent to 10,433, powered by a 68 percent rise in QX60 SUV sales.

Fast Pace

Fiat Chrysler’s North American unit projected stronger results than analysts had estimated. The Auburn Hills, Michigan- based automaker predicted a July sales pace, adjusted for seasonal trends, of 17.8 million including medium and heavy trucks, which usually account for at least 200,000 yearly sales.

The average of 11 estimates of the light-vehicle selling rate was 17.2 million, keeping the industry on track for its best sales year in a decade.

Analysts predicted that industry sales volume in July will be 1.48 million.

Sales of the Chrysler 200 almost doubled to 15,108, helping the three-vehicle Chrysler brand to a 9.7 percent gain for the month. It was the 200’s 11th straight monthly sales record. Jeep brand sales jumped 23 percent for its best July ever, as all models posted increases, led by the Wrangler and Cherokee. Ram pickups rose 1.1 percent to 36,019. The small gain delivered the line’s best July in 10 years.

General Motors Co. may report a gain of 0.6 percent in July, while Ford Motor Co. may say sales rose 1.8 percent. Toyota Motor Corp. may report a 0.1 percent drop from a year earlier, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg, while Honda Motor Co. may have a 4.7 percent increase.

Fiat Chrysler’s sales-gain streak dates to the 2009 exit from bankruptcy of the automaker formerly known as Chrysler.

Despite the revival, Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler’s chief executive officer, has renewed a push this year for consolidation, contending that the industry’s profitability even in peak years doesn’t generate enough returns to support investment costs.

Fiat Chrysler needs to boost profit to generate sufficient cash to develop the next generation of vehicles and technologies. Potential merger partners, including GM and Ford, have said they’re not interested.

The automaker last week accepted a record penalty from U.S. regulators for mishandling recalls. Profit from North America has helped boost results, letting the Italian-American automaker expand the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands.