By Reuters Staff (Adds GM’s sales figure, background) April 1 (Reuters) - Canadian auto sales rose in the first quarter, signaling a recovery from a pandemic-driven slump a year earlier, despite a severe shortage of semiconductor chips that has plagued the industry globally. Pent-up demand and customers preferring to buy vehicles seeking more safety during the COVID-19 health crisis have lifted auto sales but semiconductor chip crunch has cost the global auto industry 130,000 vehicles in lost production, research firm AutoForecast Solutions estimates. Fiat Chrysler Canada said on Thursday first-quarter sales rose 4% to 46,077 vehicles, driven by demand for Jeep and Ram pickup trucks. Sales at the carmaker’s Chrysler brand were up nearly three-fold to 2,360 units compared to the prior year.