Silverado remains the best seller at GM by far, but now the revived company has a credible lineup of fuel efficient cars.
The global sales leadership race between General Motors and Toyota, Volkswagen and General Motors remains too close to call as GM sold 7.2 million vehicles during the first nine months of 2015 a decline of -3%. Toyota Motor’s global vehicle sales for the same period totaled 7.498 million vehicles, off -1.5%, but still enough to best Volkswagen Group at a flat 7.43 million vehicles.
GM posted sales increases in four of its five largest markets, with record sales in China and strong retail sales gains in the United States. Total sales were down 1%, due primarily to the company’s previously announced decisions to reduce its presence in certain markets, as well as “difficult market conditions” in South America.
“We have reacted quickly to challenging macroeconomic environments in other markets and have shown the discipline to exit situations where we see no long-term path to acceptable returns,” said GM President Dan Ammann.
Examples of GM’s recent success include:
• GM truck sales in North America were up 16% in the first nine months of 2015.
• Chevrolet had record crossover sales in North America in the same period, up 17% year over year.
• In China, Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envision crossovers represented more than 17% of sales by GM and its joint ventures in September, up from 6% a year ago.
• Cadillac had record sales in China with deliveries rising 12% to nearly 57,000 units.
GM is preparing to launch more new trucks and crossovers during the next several months, including the all-new Cadillac XT5, a redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and a diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorado for North America, and the Baojun 560 in China. Key car launches include the all-new Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze in North America and the Opel Astra in Europe.
Additional Highlights compared to the First Nine Months of 2014
• In the United States, Chevrolet has reported six consecutive months of retail sales and market share gains and has strategically reduced sales to rental companies by more than 50,000 units through September.
• Opel/Vauxhall increased its European market share and grew sales in 19 countries, including Italy, Spain, France, the U.K. and Germany.
• Buick had record deliveries in China, with sales up 4% to nearly 670,000 units.
• Baojun had record sales, with deliveries rising 236% to more than 270,000 units.
• GMC’s global sales increased 11%, and four of the brand’s SUVs and pickup trucks – the Yukon, Yukon XL, Sierra and Canyon – have the highest average transaction prices of any vehicles in their respective segments in the United States, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.
Third Quarter
• Among GM’s largest markets, sales rose in the United States, the U.K. and Canada.
• Opel/Vauxhall, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Baojun all reported higher sales.
• Chevrolet had record crossover sales in the United States, up 24%, while Chevrolet U.S. truck sales increased 16%.
• Deliveries in South Korea were up 11% to record of nearly 43,000 units.
