U.S. October Auto Sales May Rise 8%, Helped by Zero Percent Interest

U.S. auto sales are forecast to rise eight percent in October, the highest pace since February 2000 as no-interest loans lure buyers, according to Bloomberg News.

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are offering interest-free loans on almost all models, while DaimlerChrysler AG has a more limited program. Even Japan-based makers such as Toyota Motor Corp., which typically avoid

incentives, are offering some no-interest loans.

Sales will rise 16 percent at General Motors and 8.8 percent at Ford, while DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler sales fall 3.6 percent, based on estimates of North American-built cars and light trucks by Luckey Consulting Group Inc. Toyota's U.S. sales

will rise 9.4 percent, according to the forecast.