DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. says its U.S. sales fell 8 percent in April, blaming reduced sales to car rental companies.

GM said Tuesday that retail sales to individual customers were about the same as April of last year. The world's largest automaker sold just over 213,000 cars and trucks for the month.

Sales of the Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac brands all were down. Only the GMC brand posted an increase at 4.5 percent.

The Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was the company's top seller, up almost 5 percent. But sales of the Chevrolet Cruze compact fell almost 28 percent to just over 18,000. The Cruze has been a star for GM more than a year, and April of 2011 was among its strongest months.