NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- General Motors Co. GM, +0.66% said Tuesday total March sales rose 6.4% to 245,950 from a year ago. Detroit-based General Motors' retail sales rose 4.4% to 178,989 in the same period while fleet sales jumped 12%. Sales of its Chevrolet brand rose just 0.5% to 173,859 in March while monthly sales of the Cadillac brand surged 49.5% to 15,751. Crossover vehicles jumped 31% in March while trucks, which include SUVs and pickups, rose 2%. Car sales fell 3% in the period. Overall sales were the best for March in five years, the company said.