After heavy discounts were announced by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp., the US auto sales have increased by 41%.

With rebates and offers like zero-percent financing, Toyota has captured the consumer response and cover up the two months of sales decline.

There is an increase in the sales of cars and light trucks from 857,735 in March 2009 to 1.07 million in March 2010.

The average sale of the U.S. auto industry is 16 million units in five years.

Toyota ranked second in total sales, just one step behind General Motors, which ranked first with sales of only 1000 more vehicles than Toyota. Auto major Ford Motor Co ranked third in terms of sales.

Increase in sales in March is the sign of gradual recovery of the economy but uncertainty always remain in the market.

Car companies are planning to increase the production with GM planning to increase the manufacturing of its popular models including Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox in at least five North American plants and Toyota increasing the manufacturing of its most sold car Rav-4.

Besides Toyota and GM, Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Company enjoyed increased sales in US auto market.