FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –

Pushed by a significant uptick in its sales for Big 3 brands, AutoNation improved both its March and first-quarter new-vehicle sales by double-digits, the company said Tuesday.

AutoNation closed the first quarter by moving 25,489 new vehicles in March. This marked a 15-percent year-over-year uptick. Sharing the results broken down by its three operating segments, the dealer group moved 7,991 domestic units, which was a 26-percent year-over-year leap.

It moved 13,403 import units for a 10-percent gain and sold 4,095 premium luxury units, also a 10-percent increase.

For the first quarter, overall new-vehicle sales for AutoNation showed a 13-percent improvement. The domestic business unit climbed 17 percent, while the import and premium luxury segments both jumped 12 percent.