Fiat Chrysler, Honda and General Motors scored modest U.S. sales increases last month while Ford, Nissan and Toyota fell as the industry appeared poised to record one of the strongest months in nearly a decade.

Sales at FCA US rose 4 percent from May 2014 levels as the automaker tallied its 62nd straight advance. GM, aided by truck- and crossover-brand GMC, climbed 3 percent. The Volkswagen brand chalked up a rare monthly gain, up 8 percent. American Honda benefited from a strong performance at Acura in tallying a 1.3 percent increase.

Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, dropped 1.3 percent. Nissan Group and Toyota Motor Corp. each recorded declines of less than 1 percent. Toyota’s drop marked its first setback in more than a year.

Results from the first automakers to report set the stage for a quirky month in which overall demand was projected to decline from strong year-earlier levels while sales on a seasonally adjusted [...]