March 2013 - General Motors

[William Maley]

GM Reports Best March Sales in Five Years

Cadillac sales up almost 50 percent on new models

DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) sold 245,950 vehicles in the United States in March, up 6 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 4 percent, fleet sales were up 12 percent and the fleet mix was 27 percent of total sales.

“GM delivered its best March sales in five years thanks to a strengthening economy and new products, and we are expecting our third consecutive increase in market share versus last year,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “Sales of smaller cars have been robust for some time. Trucks have improved in lockstep with the housing market and the strength of the crossover market signals that America’s families are more confident about their financial health.”

March Highlights (vs. 2012)

• Cadillac was up almost 50 percent; Buick was up 37 percent; GMC was up 12 percent; and Chevrolet sales were essentially equal to a year ago.
• Crossovers were up 31 percent; trucks, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 2 percent; car sales were down 3 percent; large pickup sales were up 6 percent.
• Small business sales, which are included in retail sales, were up 32 percent to almost 15,000 deliveries, aided by a stronger housing market.
• Sales of GM’s redesigned mid-size crossovers were up 62 percent. The Chevrolet Traverse was up 54 percent; the GMC Acadia was up 77 percent, and the Buick Enclave was up 55 percent for its best-ever March sales.
• The all-new Cadillac ATS had its best sales month yet with deliveries of 3,587 units.
• In its second full month, the all-new Buick Encore had sales of more than 3,000 units, driving a 19 percent increase in GM small and compact crossover sales.

First Quarter Highlights (vs. 2012)

• GM sales were up 9 percent: retail sales were up 10 percent; fleet sales were up 6 percent, and fleet mix was 26 percent of total sales.
• Cadillac was up 38 percent; Buick was up 28 percent; GMC was up 14 percent, and Chevrolet was up 5 percent.
• Crossovers were up 25 percent; trucks were up 10 percent and cars were up slightly.
• Large pickup trucks were up 21 percent, and combined mini, small and compact cars were up 14 percent.

[smk4565]

The Lambas are doing really well, that refresh worked. I am surprised Tahoe and Yukon sales are up, I thought people were moving away from huge trucks, but maybe they are used to $4 a gallon and it will take $5 a gallon to shock the market. I also can't believe 3,538 people bought a Spark.

[2QuickZ's]

Malibu and Regal not looking so hot. The refreshes can't get here fast enough. Let's hope they can sufficiently address the Malibu's issues. Encore seems to be selling okay. HHR, Aveo and Lucerne are not doing too well. LOL It's amazing they are going to carry the Cobalt on the chart for the whole year just because they sold 3 of them in all of 2012.