The recovery at General Motors continues and new pickup trucks, full-size now and mid-size next year, in North America will boost profits.
General Motors today posted sales of 226,402 vehicles in the United States during October, up 16% year-over-year, even though the Reptilian, sorry, Republican Tea Party shut down of the Federal Government for the first two weeks of the month severely shook consumer confidence. GM’s retail sales were up 16% and fleet sales were up 14%.
“Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick, GMC all performed well in the month, and the sales tempo really picked up after the government shutdown ended,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president, U.S. sales operations.
In the face of Republican Party hostility toward a healthy economy:
- Buick sales increased 31% to 18,000.
- Cadillac’s sales increased 10% to 15,000 and have grown in each of the last 13 months helped by the new XTS and ATS.
- GMC was up 16% at 39,000 and the Terrain had its best October sales ever.
- Chevrolet – the key brand in GM’s global plan – was up 15% at 155,000 vehicles almost outselling Toyota’s entire three-brand lineup, which came in at 169,000 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles
Thirteen GM nameplates posted double-digit increases, including every SUV and crossover nameplate. Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra accounted for 49,000 pickups for a better than 10% increase. Silverado (42,660) is by far GM’s best selling vehicle. Second is the Equinox at 17,163.
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.
