Ford's US sales up 6.5 percent in November

(AP) Ford says U.S. sales rose 6.5 percent in November thanks to strong demand for its F-Series pickups and the company's new C-Max hybrid.

Ford's results are mirroring the rest of the industry. The sales pace has quickened thanks to rising consumer confidence and continuing low interest rates.

The company says its F-Series sales rose 18 percent compared with November of 2011. It was Ford's strongest November for truck sales since 2005.

Small cars also did well. Sales of the Ford Focus increased 56 percent, while sales of the new C-Max were up 52 percent over October.

Ford says it's increasing first-quarter production by 11 percent from a year earlier, a sign of its confidence in the ongoing recovery in sales.