General Motors Co. dealers delivered 254,076 vehicles in the United States in April 2014. Total sales were up 7 percent compared with a year ago. Fleet sales were up 5 percent and retail sales – vehicles sold to individual buyers – were up 8 percent. GM expects to increase its retail market share from March. “Retail demand was steady in April, and truck sales and transaction prices were especially strong,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “As we expected, the economy continues to strengthen. In addition, our award-winning new products are performing well, we have more on the way and our dealers are winning accolades for outstanding service.”
GM’s newest products include the 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, which began arriving in showrooms in April. Upcoming launches include the Cadillac ATS coupe, which arrives this summer; the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickups, which arrive in the fall; and the 2015 Chevrolet City Express LS, the brand’s first entry in the small cargo van segment. It arrives in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to dealer service satisfaction, the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands rank in the top five of all automotive brands in the United States, according to the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI).
April Sales Highlights (vs. 2013 except as noted)
- At Chevrolet, sales were up 5 percent. Deliveries of the Impala were up 27 percent, Spark was up 24 percent, Volt was up 19 percent and Camaro was up 14 percent.
- Cadillac total sales were up 5 percent and retail sales were the highest April since 2007.
- Sales of the Cadillac CTS line were up 36 percent, with sales of the sedan up 68 percent on the strength of the all-new 2014 model, which is the Motor Trend Car of the Year. SRX deliveries were up 31 percent, for the vehicle’s best April ever.
- Buick sales were up 12 percent for the brand’s best April since 2006. The results were driven by a 48 percent increase in Encore deliveries, as well as a 21 percent increase in Regal sales and a 10 percent increase in LaCrosse sales.
- GMC sales were up 13 percent for the brand’s best April since 2007.
- Sales of large SUVs, which include the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, were up 22 percent.
- Chevrolet Silverado sales were up 9 percent and GMC Sierra sales were up 21 percent. Retail deliveries were up 13 percent and 22 percent, respectively.
- GM expects to gain between two and three points of retail market share in the large pickup segment compared to March 2014.
- Per plan, GM increased its share of trucks sold with average transaction prices below $40,000 compared to the first quarter of 2014, and maintained its share of more premium-contented trucks.
- GM’s incentive spending was down from March. As a percentage of average transaction price, spending was 10.2 percent, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.
- Average transaction prices continued to improve from record levels set in the first quarter of 2014. Year to date, they are up more than $2,000 per unit versus the same period in 2013, according to J.D. Power PIN.
- Commercial fleet sales were up 11 percent for the sixth consecutive monthly increase.
- Small business deliveries, which are included in retail sales, were up 14 percent.