Chrysler Group LLC says its October sales fell 30 percent below the same month last year. But they improved from September when the U.S. auto industry had a hangover from the government's summertime Cash for Clunkers program.

The maker of the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram truck brands says it sold 65,803 vehicles last month, up 6 percent from September.

Chrysler, which is announcing a new product strategy on Wednesday, is aiming to show steady improvement from month to month as the U.S. economy starts to emerge from its yearlong slump. The automaker's sales dropped 42 percent in September following the end of hefty clunker rebates.

Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, reported a 3 percent rise in monthly sales over October of last year.