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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI)(FCAU.N) U.S. October sales rose 22 percent on strong pickup truck demand, the company said on Monday.

The Ram pickup truck brand, anchored by the Ram 1500, reported sales of 39,834 vehicles, a 36 percent increase from a year ago. Chrysler Group and its Ram brand took advantage as Ford Motor Co (F.N) has lowered production of its top-selling F-150 pickup truck in recent months. Ford is transitioning to a new aluminum-bodied version that will begin sales late this year.

Major automakers in the U.S. market are expected to show a rise of about 6 percent from a year earlier. A poll by Thomson Reuters of 29 economists forecast a seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate of 16.5 million vehicles.

Each month, auto sales are an early snapshot of U.S. consumer spending.

It was the best October for Chrysler sales since 2001, and the company's 55th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

Chrysler's 22 percent sales gain matched expectations of analysts polled by Reuters.

Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) and Honda Motor Co (7267.T) each reported strong crossover model sales and record October U.S. sales for their core brands.

Nissan Motor sales rose 13.3 percent to 103,117 vehicles, beating expectations of an 11 percent rise. Nissan brand sales rose 15 percent, while the Infiniti luxury brand's sales fell 1.2 percent.

Sales of the Nissan Rogue crossover increased 14 percent to nearly 14,700 vehicles. Sales of the Sentra small car jumped 56 percent to 13,129.

Honda Motor sales rose 5.8 percent, missing expectations of an 8 percent rise.

Honda's top-selling model was the CR-V crossover at 29,257 vehicles, up 30 percent. It eclipsed the Accord sedan, which sold 27,128 vehicles, up 8 percent. Civic sales fell 12 percent to 24,154.