General Motors U.S. July Sales up 16%

AutoInformed.com

The interiors of the GMT 900 pickups have the most striking changes. This is the 2014 GMC Sierra.

General Motors Company posted July sales of 234,071 vehicles in the United States in, up 16% compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 23%, while fleet sales declined 6%. All four GM brands posted double-digit retail sales increases. Overall, the U.S. market rose 14% year-over-year during July as the U.S. auto sales recovery continues its slow comeback from the Great Recession.

GM by slightly outperforming the market easily held its Number One spot in U.S. Sales at 234,071. However, Ford Motor slipped to Number Three as Toyota had a stronger month with sales soaring to 193,394 to Ford’s 190,080.

“Our experience shows that the difference between good sales and great sales in a slow-growth economy is how many new products you have to offer, and we are starting to hit our sweet spot,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president, U.S. sales operations.

GM pickup, van and SUV sales were up a combined 16%, with full-size pickups increasing 44% for the best July since 2007 mirroring sales gains at competitors. About 15% of full-size pickup sales of 58,662 were all-new GMT-900 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2014 crew cabs. Double-cab models are now shipping to dealers and regular cab production begins later this summer.

If the secret to comedy is timing, it’s also the secret to profits in the automobile business. GM is in North America should be printing money during the back half of the year as its changeover is completed on the pickups. The full size direved SUVs follow next year.

GM July 2013 Total YOY Retail Sales YOY 
Chevrolet 162,670 17.1% 124,750 25.1%
GMC 39,356 14.1% 33,988 23.3%
Buick 16,393 13.9% 15,662 9.7%
Cadillac 15,652 16.7% 14,719 22.7%
Total GM 234,071 16.3% 189,119 23.2%
         
CYTD Total YOY Retail YOY
Chevrolet 1,177,804 7.0% 813,380 10.1%
GMC 260,052 10.4% 223,307 14.9%
Buick 117,230 12.1% 105,827 14.1%
Cadillac 99,331 30.3% 90,785 26.0%
Total GM 1,654,417 9.1% 1,233,299 12.4%
         
Fleet Month YOY CYTD CYTD 
Total GM 19.2% (4.5) points 25.5% (2.2) points
         
Inventory Month end Days June Days
All Vehicles 638,517 68 708,229 70
GMT-900
140,035 68 181,222 86

 

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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