DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Average per-vehicle incentives in the U.S. from auto makers rose 1.8% in December from the prior month, according to car-shopping website Edmunds.com, as five of the six major auto makers posted sequential increases. The industry gave out an average of $2,314 for each vehicle it sold in December, up from $2,272 in November and down from $2,538 in December 2010. Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO) reported the biggest month-over-month increase in incentive spending, rising 7.2% from November. Chrysler Group LLC and Ford Motor Co. (F) both reported a 2.4% sequential increase in incentive spending. Edmunds said Chrysler's marketing and sales success in 2011 led to far less reliance on incentive spending last month. Chrysler posted a 27% year-over-year decrease in incentive spending, the biggest drop among the major auto makers. Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, 7203.TO) reported a 2.2% sequential increase while Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY, 7201.TO) spent 0.1% more on incentives in the latest month. General Motors Co. (GM) was the only major auto maker to spend less on incentives in December from November, posting a 1.2% decrease. GM had reported the biggest sequential increase in incentive spending in November from the prior month. -By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
