U.S. auto sales last month rose 1.4 percent to 1.32 million vehicles, a whisper below the industry record for November in 2001.

On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, however, last month was a record for any November at 18.19 million vehicles sold, partly due to fewer selling days this year, according to Autodata Corp.

Figures may be revised on Wednesday when Daimler AG (>> Daimler AG) issues Mercedes-Benz results, Autodata said.

Most analysts say 2015 sales will top the record of 17.35 million vehicles in 2000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Year-end holiday promotions were pushed into November as automakers emphasized Black Friday deals.

“Black Friday has become a much bigger part of the auto industry over the last several years," said Nissan's (>> Nissan Motor Co Ltd) U.S. sales chief, Dan Mohnke. "It used to be a non-automotive retail holiday but now it is becoming more and more an automotive retail holiday as well, feeding right into the holiday season which traditionally has been December and luxury sales."

Now, the holiday season includes mainstream models as well as luxury ones, said Mohnke.

Jeff Schuster, forecaster for LMC Automotive, said promotions drew customers even if incentives did not rise sharply.

"Incentives were strong for the Black Friday weekend but I think it was more of the messaging than substance.”

GM's sales rose 1.5 percent. Like most automakers, GM showed gains for SUVs but losses for sedan sales.

Full-size pickup truck sales, combining the Chevrolet Silverado and GM Sierra, fell 6 percent, while sales of the Ford Motor Co (>> Ford Motor Company) F-Series pickups jumped 10 percent to 65,192. Ford said its F-150 pickup, usually two-thirds of its F-Series sales, set a record for November.

Ford sales rose 0.4 percent.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (>> Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV) said its Ram pickup sales rose 2 percent.

Volkswagen AG's (>> Volkswagen AG) U.S. sales in November fell 25 percent as it coped with a scandal over diesel emissions cheating.

Last November, VW sold 5,462 diesel-powered models, which it has stopped selling due to the scandal. Before the crisis erupted in September, 21 percent of its U.S. sales in 2015 were cars with diesel engines.

Fiat Chrysler stretched its streak of consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains to 68 as its SUV brand Jeep showed sales up 20 percent.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Matthew Lewis)

By Bernie Woodall