GM dealers in the United States delivered 282,732 vehicles in March, a decrease of 13 percent when compared with the same month a year ago. For the first three months of 2008, GM total sales of 805,720 vehicles were down 11 percent compared with a year ago. Retail share appears to have remained stable throughout the month and the quarter. “Our new launch vehicles, including the award-winning Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, and our new crossovers -- Enclave, Acadia and Outlook -- had a strong month,” said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.
“Most importantly, despite the tough economy and soft truck market, we anticipate our total retail vehicle sales share to have remained flat for the month and the first three months of the year. We are encouraged by our performance in the key passenger car categories, and we anticipate holding our share for full-size pickups and utilities,” LaNeve added.
There were several bright spots in the truck category, including GMC Sierra pickup sales that were up 4 percent total and 1 percent retail for the month. Saturn Vue total sales were up 12 percent and retail climbed 18 percent. The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook crossovers together accounted for more than 14,000 vehicle sales in the month, an increase of 45 percent compared with the same month last year. Outlook sales were up 18 percent; Acadia sales increased 39 percent; and there were more than 4,400 Buick Enclaves sold. The Saab 9-7X also increased its total sales 18 percent for the month. GM total truck sales for the month declined 16 percent compared with March 2007.
GM’s fuel-efficient cars saw strong growth. Chevrolet Malibu total sales were up 7 percent with retail sales up 122 percent, and Impala sales were up 10 percent total and 16 percent retail. Pontiac Vibe total sales were up 39 percent with retail up 4 percent, while G6 was up 31 percent total compared with March 2007. In the luxury car segment, the award-winning Cadillac CTS saw total sales increase 33 percent with a strong retail increase of 43 percent. The just-released 2009 Pontiac Vibe and G8 are selling as fast as they are delivered to dealers.
“For the first three months of the year, GM has four of the top-10 selling cars in the market with Impala, Cobalt, G6 and Malibu. Our sales performance in mid-cars and crossovers shows the power of new products to attract consumers – even in a tough market,” LaNeve added. “Consumers can always walk into a GM showroom and know they’ll get a vehicle with industry-leading value, great fuel economy and the best warranty coverage of any full-line automaker.”
Certified Used Vehicles
March 2008 sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, were 43,659 vehicles, down 19 percent from March 2007 results. Year-to-date sales are 123,633 vehicles, down 12 percent from the same period last year.
GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry’s top-selling certified brand, posted March sales of 38,612 vehicles, down 19 percent from last March, when GM Certified set an industry monthly sales record for the certified category. Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 3,324 vehicles, down 14 percent. Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 1,042 vehicles, down 35 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Ve hicles sold 518 vehicles, down 32 percent, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 163 vehicles, up 39 percent.
“We’re encouraged that GM Certified Used Vehicles sales grew 2 percent from the previous month, the second consecutive monthly sales increase for the brand,” said LaNeve. “The Hummer Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles program posted one of its best months ever, with a 39 percent increase from last March.”
GM North America Reports March and First -Quarter 2008 Production , 2008 Second-Quarter Production Forecast Unchanged at 1.08 Million Vehicles
In March, GM North America produced 237,000 vehicles (124,000 cars and 113,000 trucks). This is down 164,000 vehicles or 41 percent compared to March 2007 when the region produced 401,000 vehicles (134,000 cars and 267,000 trucks). (Production totals include joint venture production of 20,000 vehicles in March 2008 and 15,000 vehicles in March 2007.)
GM North America built 885,000 vehicles ( 360,000 cars and 525,000 trucks) in the first-quarter of 2008. This is down 178,000 vehicles or 17 percent compared to first-quarter 2007 actuals when the region produced 1.063 million vehicles (399,000 cars and 664,000 trucks). Nearly 100,000 units of production have been lost due to the strike at American Axle. Additionally, the region’s 2008 second-quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 1.08 million vehicles (408,000 cars and 672,000 trucks ).