Chrysler Canada says its enjoying the longest auto sales growth streak in its history.

The resurgent automaker, rescued by U.S. and Canadian government loans after filing for U.S. bankruptcy protection in 2009, says it posted its 38 consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth in Canada in January.

Overall, the company says it sold 17,013 vehicles last month, up three per cent from 16,584 vehicles sold in January 2012.

Chrysler says those figures mean its starting the year as the No. 1 seller of vehicles in Canada.

Numbers from the other big two North American automakers – GM and Ford – are expected later today.

Volkswagen Canada is also reporting a strong start to 2013, saying the 3,373 new cars and light trucks it sold in January was the companys best ever for the month and 8.5 per cent higher than last year.