BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS SETTING SALES RECORDS THEY SOLD MORE LIGHT TRUCKS IN MARCH THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS MONTH EVER CHRYSLER'S TOTAL VEHICLE SALES HIT A HIGH POINT.(BUSINESS)

Byline: MIKE MCKESSON Associated Press

DETROIT The Big Three automakers each sold more light trucks in March than in any month ever, and Chrysler Corp. set a record for total vehicle sales, as well.

Figures released Wednesday showed all three with sharp sales increases from a year ago and no apparent loss of momentum for a boom that has brought them back to profitability.

Major Japanese automakers also recorded sharp sales gains. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for cars and light trucks sold in the United States was 15.8 million vehicles, its highest level since January 1990, when it was 16 million.

Chrysler car and light …