GM Q3 US Sales Drop -33% as Semiconductor Shortage Bites

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General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) dealers delivered 446,997 vehicles in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2021, down 218,195 units or -33% from a year ago because of semiconductor supply chain disruptions and historically low inventories.

During the quarter, GM provided an update for investors that its wholesale volumes in North America in the second half of 2021 would be down about 200,000 units from the first half, largely because of supply chain disruptions in Malaysia caused by COVID-19, with most of the impact occurring during the third quarter.

GM’s financial outlook is still expected to be within the calendar year guidance range previously provided as the company continues to develop solutions to mitigate the impacts of the semiconductor shortage and Chevrolet Bolt EV recall. (Confirmed: General Motors to Recall more Bolt EVs at $1B Cost)

The semiconductor supply disruptions that impacted our third-quarter wholesale and customer deliveries are improving. As we look to the fourth quarter, a steady flow of vehicles held at plants will continue to be released to dealers, we are restarting production at key crossover and car plants, and we look forward to a more stable operating environment through the fall,” said Steve Carlisle, executive vice president and president, GM North America.

Despite challenging conditions during the third quarter, GM maintained or increased its retail market share in key segments compared with a year ago, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates:

• During the third quarter, GM’s retail share of the full-size pickup segment grew more than 2 percentage points, with the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra reaching a combined 38% share. GM continues to sell more full-size pickups than any other automaker calendar year to date. Fleet sales of full-size pickup trucks were up 13%.
• Seven in 10 customers in the full-size SUV segment purchased a Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon. Sales of the Suburban (up 28%), Tahoe (up 5%) and Yukon (up 24%) rose year over year. Sales of full-size SUVs to fleet customers were up 89%, with Chevrolet Tahoe PPV sales up 86%.
• The Cadillac Escalade increased deliveries by 123% and it remains the best-selling large luxury SUV by a double-digit margin.
• The Chevrolet Trailblazer grew sales by 147%, and the Buick Encore GX by 3%, helping GM maintain leading retail share of the highly competitive small SUV segment.
• The Chevrolet Corvette, the best-selling vehicle in the luxury sport segment, increased sales by 60%. The all-new 2023 Corvette Z06 will be revealed on Oct. 26.
• The Chevrolet Silverado medium-duty reported best-ever deliveries for the third quarter and calendar year to date, with total sales up 13%, and the Chevrolet Low Cab Forward delivered its best quarter ever with total sales up 53%.

Wholesale, Production and Inventory Status

• As of this week, all of GM’s full-size pickup, full-size SUV and midsize pickup truck plants in North America are operating.
• Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Michigan, which builds the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse, and Lansing Grand River Assembly, which builds the Cadillac CT4, CT5 and Chevrolet Camaro, will resume regular production on Oct. 4.
• During the quarter, GM shipped to dealers over 68,000 units that had been held at assembly plants due to semiconductor supply issues.
• Dealer inventory, including in-transit units, was 128,757 units at the end of the third quarter, with availability projected to improve during the fourth quarter.
• GM’s average transaction price was $47,467 during the third quarter and incentives as a percentage of ATP were 4.7%.
• GM estimates total light vehicle SAAR for the third quarter was 13.4 million, down from 15.5 million a year ago.

“While supply has been constraining sales in recent months, underlying demand conditions remain strong, thanks to ample job openings, growing pent-up vehicle demand and excess savings accumulated by many households during the pandemic,” said Elaine Buckberg, GM chief economist. “We expect to continue selling every vehicle we can produce with rapid turnover.”