Chrysler, which merged with Daimler-Benz AG last month to form DaimlerChrysler AG, said its car sales rose six per cent in November, to 50,178 from 47,539 a year earlier, while light truck sales jumped seven per cent, to 141,834 from 132,463.

Chrysler said Dodge truck sales surged 18 per cent, with the Dodge Ram, Dodge Durango and Dodge Dakota all reporting record monthly sales. Total sport utility vehicle sales rose 13 per cent in November, to 55,025, Chrysler said.

``Our Dodge and Chrysler brands are red hot,''said James Holden, DaimlerChrysler executive vice president of sales and marketing. ``And as more of our 1999 Jeep brand vehicles -- particularly the new Grand Cherokee -- are made available to our customers, we can expect to enter the new year in a very solidposition.''

Sales of Chrysler brand vehicles jumped 48 per cent from November 1997, and Dodge sales rose 15 per cent. But the company's Jeep brand sales fell 7 per cent and Plymouth brand sales plunged 25 per cent.

General Motors Corp.

GM and Ford Motor are scheduled to report their US November sales on Thursday. Analysts expect Ford sales to rise 2 per cent and GM is seen posting a four per cent increase.