The auto industry just had its best February in 15 years, raising hopes that another banner year for auto sales will follow a record setting 2015.

U.S. auto sales rose nearly 7% over last February as American consumers bought 1.3 million vehicles last month. Sales were driven by low oil prices, easy access to credit, an aging vehicle fleet, and strong job growth. February’s seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate was 17.43 million vehicles, according to Ward’s Automotive. This was slightly down from January’s rate of 17.46 million, but represented an increase over December’s figures, spurring optimism that last year’s record 17.5 million vehicles sold is within reach.

“We are expecting an all time high,” said Dr. David Berson, Chief Economist at Nationwide Insurance. “Auto sales go up as we get good job growth. Unless the economy stumbles, we could see pretty good job growth for awhile.”

Strong auto sales were another sign that fears of a recession are unfounded. Seasonally adjusted employment in January improved over December’s numbers while personal income and consumer spending surged in January to beat analyst estimates, according to figures released last week.

Auto prices increased in February by just over two percent as auto lending continued to drive consumer credit.

Ford outpaced strong gains by other automakers with a 20% increase over February 2015 numbers, with sales of its Lincoln line growing by nearly a third. Honda of America had its best February ever while increasing sales nearly 13% over last year’s figures. Fiat-Chrysler also enjoyed double-digit gains.

Light trucks, a category that includes SUVs and crossovers, continued to drive sales, with almost 800,000 sold in February compared to just 550,000 cars. The last time more cars were sold than trucks in a month was in March of 2013, when gas cost almost four dollars a gallon. Since then, car sales have remained relatively flat while light trucks sales continued to grow.    

In addition to lower gas prices, the rising cost of sedans and compact cars are pushing consumers toward light trucks and SUVs, said Dan Ciriello, sales manager at Crowley Ford in Plainville, Connecticut.

“Prices for the cars have gone up,” Ciriello said. “Customers often find they can get the SUV for the same money.”

The bullish auto industry has been helped by consumers finally buying vehicles after putting off auto purchases during the recession, analysts said. But after a year of record sales, some analysts wondered how many of those consumers are left.

“At some stage we will catch up with the loss of sales during the great recession,” said Markus Schomer, chief economist at Pinebridge Investments. “I think we are getting close to seeing a leveling off of auto sales.”

General Motors sales fell 1.5%, but the nation’s largest automaker blamed the poor numbers on an intentional reduction in its rental sales.

It wasn’t a weak month for GM, just a change in strategy,” said Tim Fleming, an analyst at Kelley Blue Book, who pointed to the automaker’s 7% increase in retail sales as evidence of the brand’s strength.

VW sales fell 13% in the wake of the continuing emissions cheating scandal. Fellow German automaker BMW saw sales fall 10% compared to last February.