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August 2012 - General Motors

By William Maley

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GM U.S. Sales Increase 10 percent

Chevrolet passenger car sales up 25 percent

DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported August sales of 240,520 vehicles in the United States, up 10 percent compared with a year ago. GM increased its sales to retail customers by 11 percent, making August its best retail month of the year. Sales to fleet customers were up 6 percent compared with a year ago. All four GM brands posted higher total and retail sales.

Thanks in part to extensive national advertising during the Olympic Games, Chevrolet passenger car sales were up 25 percent, with the Spark, Sonic, Cruze and Volt all posting their best-ever monthly sales. In addition, the Chevrolet Equinox set an August record behind its 22 percent year-over-year sales increase.

“The single message Chevrolet communicated this summer was ‘confidence’ and it rang true with customers when they saw how our product lineup is being transformed,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “All four of our brands are building momentum behind new products so we’re very well positioned as the economy continues to slowly improve.”

Other sales highlights for August include an 11 percent year over year increase in Cadillac sales driven by strong demand for the SRX crossover, the Escalade and the new XTS large sedan. Buick sales increased 12 percent on the strength of the Verano, which has seen nine back-to-back monthly sales increases. Buick recorded its best retail sales since September 2007. GMC sales were up 4 percent, following a 35 percent reduction in fleet sales. GMC Acadia sales rose 26 percent in August and GMC Terrain sales were up 16 percent.

GM is in the midst of an aggressive rollout of new products in the United States. Some 70 percent of GM nameplates will be redesigned or all new over the course of 2012 and 2013, with the four-cylinder 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2013 Cadillac ATS reaching the market now.

The redesigned Malibu arriving in dealerships will replace depleted stocks of 2012 models. The compact Cadillac ATS sport sedan is the brand’s second all-new sedan this year and it will compete in the highest volume luxury segment in the United States.

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    Newbie

    ocnblu

    Members
    (edited)

    People really like the Verano, with its affordable price, manageable size, luxurious interior, and simple, effective 2.4L/6 speed automatic powertrain. The Turbo should bring in some conquests, imo.

    The Sonic seems to be the best selling car in its class, and is doing pretty well. The little Spark has ignited something, it did pretty well right out of the gate, imo.

    The Malibu will recover, now that it has an honest powertrain. The reviews are in and it is unanimous... the 2.5 is the only Malibu worth buying (at least until the turbo arrives, then there'll be 2).

    Edited by ocnblu

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    • Newbie

    yougojay

    Members

    This is such good news, love to hear positive news in regards to GM and their sales.

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    • Community Regular

    regfootball

    Members
    (edited)

    Wait til the Impaler hits. Chevy's car lineup will be pretty solid, top to bottom. You could argue that Chevy could have a few more car models to fill some tiny niches. But overally they will be in a great place.

    Cadillac is getting there also. By the time the new CTS hits, Cadillac will have a pretty good lineup too.

    Buick IMO needs to evolve into some unique spots. The Encore is not bad...however much GM didn't want to do it, I think an Equinox/Terrain companion is just as justifiable as Enclave is to it's mates (likewise why no Chevy Trax?). If Buick had the Adam or Corsa here and simply just imported the other Astra versions of the Verano, I think they would rock out Buick. No reason why we can't have the 3 door, 5 door, and even the wagon Astra. I used to think the Regal should get the wagon but I don't feel that anymore. I think GM is done with wagons mostly. Regal hatch may be unique and to be honest i would enjoy that but the sedan is fine to me. I think the Regal should think about adding one AWD version. It may not be worth doing a lot with Regal until the next gen where hopefully they can shed the weight.

    GM maybe should still consider a cruze coupe. I wish the Cruze hatch was less lumpy but I am overall 50/50 on a cruze hatch here if we got the Astra buick hatch instead. Cruze wagon is useful but with it's nerdy look I don't see it surviving in a sea of Equinoxes and regular Cruze's.

    I like the new Malibu but it seems like GM should plan for an all new one in 4 years, with a new lighter platform. Make that the start of the next global platform.

    Edited by regfootball

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    • Rising Star

    riviera74

    Members

    All I see are precentages. Where are the actual sales numbers?

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