DETROIT -- Record sales of its fuel-efficient Fusion helped Ford grab a bigger slice of the U.S. car market in April, even as its overall sales dropped 32 percent.

The gains could come at the expense of its Detroit rivals, which are struggling to attract buyers soured by shrinking incomes and auto bankruptcy worries. General Motors and Chrysler report April sales later Friday.

Ford said Friday April sales of light trucks and vehicles fell 32 percent compared with sales in April 2008. The figures exclude sales of heavy and low cab forward trucks.