Brazilian automakers sold 15.5% more cars and trucks in the first two weeks of February compared with the same period in January, the National Motor Vehicle Dealership Association, or Fenabrave, said Tuesday.

Brazil car dealers sold 109,258 units in the first two weeks of the month.

Sales also rose in comparison to the first half of February 2008, rising 7.4%.

Gustavo Schmidt, sales director at Volkswagen, told Dow Jones Newswires on Tuesday that higher sales figures would not be a surprise.

The government temporarily removed an industrial tax on four and two-door vehicles late in 2008 to compensate for a steep decline in car sales.

Schmidt said the tax break has brought consumers out to new car lots. In some cases, sticker prices have declined by as much as 7.4%.

Brazil sold 88,507 cars in the first half of February, up 11.2% from January sales and 4.6% from the same two week period in February 2008.

Pickup trucks and SUV sales rose 37.7% to on the month to 20,751 units. Sales in that category were also 21.2% higher than the same period in February 2008.

The dealership association publishes sales data twice a month.

Volkswagen was the market leader again so far, continuing from its No. 1 position in January. Fiat is in a close second, followed by U.S. automakers General Motors (GM) and Ford (F).

-By Kenneth Rapoza, Dow Jones Newswires, 5511-8812-5961, kenneth.rapoza@dowjones.com