Cars sales in the US during December 2004 are expected to hover close to the total for the previous year, according to the latest analysis.

Adjusted figures point to a monthly total of around 17.5 million vehicles, with the majority of observers predicting a relatively stable month.

Chrysler Group is thought to have performed well in December, although big players including General Motors saw monthly sales drop off by five per cent.

Merrill Lynch's John Casesa told Dow Jones that Ford would also be another automotive manufacturer likely to perform less well when the figures are released on Thursday, but agreed that the industry could point to a relatively stable month.

"We estimate that US light vehicle sales will be up slightly in December," he commented.

David Healy, an analyst with Burnham Investment Research, predicted that sales will fall just short of the 2003 total, although Banc of America Securities' Ronald Tadross was slightly more confident in the US market.

He has upped his December estimate for light vehicle sales to 17.5 million from 17.3 million, identifying a strong performance by overseas manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda.