Rising gasoline prices appeared to have had only a modest effect on sales of the biggest, most profitable vehicles last month.

Mini-vans are among Chrysler's most popular and profitable vehicles.

But trucks are the most profitable vehicles sold by automakers, and the impetus to sell them in an immensely competitive industry is strong.

Along the way, the theory goes, they will keep moving up to larger and more profitable vehicles.

These are very profitable vehicles, and Ford estimates its pretax loss at up to $140 million.

Responsible organizations and citizens have long pointed out the destructiveness of his highly profitable vehicles.

For car makers, that would mean fewer sales of the more expensive - and profitable - vehicles that mark middle age.

Without a fleetwide standard, auto companies would be free to shift the production of smaller, less profitable vehicles from the United States to overseas.

The mini-van, introduced six years ago, is one of Chrysler's most profitable vehicles.

Full-size cars are among the most highly profitable vehicles sold in North America.