SOLIDARITY FOREVER!

--April may be the cruelest month, but not for automakers. General Motors says it sold 232,538 vehicles in April, a 26% gain from the same month a year earlier.

GM regained its position as the biggest auto seller after coming in second to Ford in March. Ford's April sales totaled 189,778, up 16% compared with the same month a year earlier.

Volkswagen of America sold 28,542 vehicles in April, a 23% gain from the same month a year ago and its best monthly total since November 2003. The brand was helped by its Jetta compact sedan, which sold 16,955 units, up 74% from a year earlier.

With gas prices rising, April was an especially hot month for small and fuel-efficient vehicles.