DETROIT — Experian Automotive's AutoCount data revealed Ally Financial financed more consumer new-vehicle purchases in the U.S. than any other lender last year.

All told in 2010, officials discovered Ally financed more than 803,000 new-vehicle purchases, resulting in nearly $23 billion in consumer retail contracts in the U.S. They calculated the figure represents approximately a 60-percent increase in new-vehicle originations compared to 2009. 

"Ally accounted for one in every eight new vehicle purchases that are financed in this country last year," declared Bill Muir, Ally Financial president.

"We are proud to support a broad network of automotive dealers and their customers with financing products and services, and as the leading auto financing source in the market, we are committed to this industry for the long term," Muir added.

In total, combining new- and used-vehicles purchases and leases, officials tabulated that Ally financed $31.6 billion in consumer auto contracts in the U.S. last year.

Ally determined it financed nearly 1.2 million vehicles, an increase of more than 80 percent from 2009. In addition, the company noted that it provided financing for more than 2.8 million vehicles sold to more than 5,000 dealers in 2010, an increase of nearly 80 percent from the prior year.

"Ally has some inherent strengths that have led to our leadership position in supporting the auto industry, and those strengths have contributed to both the growth and diversification of our auto finance business," Muir insisted.

Ally Financial recapped that it accepts financing applications for new and used vehicles from franchise dealers of all major manufacturers and is the preferred provider of financing for the dealer networks of General Motors, Chrysler, Saab, Suzuki, Fiat and Thor Industries. 

Officials pointed out Experian reports Department of Motor Vehicles registration information from all 50 states. They conceded four states do not report the financing source: Wyoming, Delaware, Rhode Island and Oklahoma.