Ford Motor Co. says its June U.S. sales fell only 10.7 percent from a year earlier, a far smaller drop than in previous months and a sign that auto sales may be recovering.

The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker says it sold 173,462 cars and light trucks last month. Ford's sales were down 24 percent in May and off 37 percent for the first five months of the year.

Ford is the only Detroit-area automaker not relying on government loans to operate. The company has seen its market share grow while rivals Chrysler and General Motors struggle with financial problems.