FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -

AutoNation said Wednesday that its retail new-vehicle unit sales during February marked a substantial increase from the year-ago period, as two of its three operating segments posted double-digit gains.

Specifically, AutoNation dealers moved 17,041 retail new vehicles in February, a 29-percent hike.

The company’s domestic operating segment showed a 40-percent year-over-year improvement, as there were 5,240 retail new units sold.

The import segment posted a 35-percent gain, selling 9,114 models. The premium luxury segment’s retail new unit sales dipped 1 percent to 2,687 vehicles.