New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady (left) receives a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado pickup after Brady was named Super Bowl XLIX MVP in Glendale, Arizona. Brady led his team to a 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.
General Motors (NYSE: GM) dealers in the United States delivered 202,786 vehicles last month for the company’s best January sales in seven years. Total sales were up 18% compared to a year ago. Retail sales were up 14% and fleet deliveries increased by 32%.
The gains were largely the result of booming truck and crossover demand. Year-over-year pickup deliveries rose 42%, following last month’s 43% increase. Large pickup sales were up 22% and more than 8,000 all-new Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size trucks were delivered. GM is the only U.S.-based automaker competing in this segment – on that Ford once dominated with its Ranger.
Chevrolet Silverado deliveries increased 25%, and five months after introduction, the new Colorado has overtaken the Nissan Frontier to become Number 2 in retail market share in the mid-size pickup segment.
Sales of crossovers and SUVs were up 36% year over year, with the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse, the GMC Terrain and the Buick Encore all posting their highest January sales ever. Chevrolet will unveil a redesigned Equinox at the Chicago Auto Show on February 12.
Average Transaction Prices or ATPs were $34,800, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates through Jan. 25, an increase of $2,400 per unit compared to a year ago.
GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in January was 16.6 million.
