WRAPUP 3-GM January US sales rise, bucking trend of rivals

(Adds annual rate figure, analyst comment)

By Ben Klayman

DETROIT, Feb 1 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday posted a surprise 2.6 percent increase in January U.S. vehicle sales on the back of popular new models as its Japanese and U.S. rivals reported declining sales.

GM, the No. 1 U.S. automaker, reported a jump in retail passenger car sales supported by a new Chevrolet Malibu model and raised its first-quarter North American vehicle production forecast by 2 percent, showing more signs that a focus on developing new vehicles has taken hold.

The rest of the major automakers reported sales declines, including Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research), now the No. 2 seller in the United States.

Toyota, which reported a 2.3 percent sales decline, offered far lower incentives on its vehicles than the U.S.-based automakers. Sales of the Camry, the top-selling car in the United States, were about flat, while sales of its Prius hybrid jumped 37 percent.

Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , now No. 3 in U.S. sales, reported a 3.6 percent sales decline -- broadly in step with sales dips posted by Toyota and Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research).

Chrysler LLC, controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, said sales fell 12 percent as it slashed sales to rental fleets and saw weaker demand for its pickup trucks and SUVs, while Nissan Motor Co Ltd's (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) sales slid 7.3 percent.

Industry executives and analysts broadly expected U.S. auto sales to decline in January, typically a weak sales month, but the overall figure was worse than most expected.