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GM Sales Highest Since 2008, Cruze Hits Record
DETROIT -- General Motors Co. sold 264,843 vehicles in the United States in June, up 6% compared with a year ago, the automaker reported today. Deliveries to retail customers increased 14% while fleet sales declined 9% due to the timing of customer deliveries.
Sales of the Lordstown, Ohio-built Chevrolet Cruze reached 32,872 in June, up 73% from June 2012, setting an all-time monthly sales record.
Total crossover sales were up 9% compared with a year ago; passenger car sales were up 4%, and truck sales, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 8%. All four GM brands posted higher retail sales, with Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac posting double-digit increases.
“Our Chevrolet, Buick-GMC and Cadillac dealers reported strong retail deliveries across the board in June and for the first six months of the year,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president, U.S. sales operations. “We have good momentum heading into the second half of 2013: the economic outlook is solid and our launch vehicles are performing well in the marketplace.”
GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate for light vehicles in June was 15.8 million units, the highest level since November 2007.
“America’s families are better off than they were at the beginning of the year and they believe -- with good justification -- that the economic expansion is going to continue,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM chief economist. “Even moderate economic growth will be enough to keep the auto sales rate in the second half of the year at healthy levels around the mid 15 million-unit mark.”
June Sales Highlights (vs. 2012)
- Combined sales of GM’s mini, small and compact cars were up 59 percent. Large pickups were up 29 percent, luxury car sales were up 22 percent and compact crossovers were up 8 percent.
- Cadillac passenger car sales increased 38 percent on the strength of the all-new ATS and XTS, helping drive the brand’s fastest growth since 1976.
- Chevrolet mini, small and compact car sales were up 66 percent.
- Total sales of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra increased 29 percent and 33 percent respectively. Combined, dealers delivered more than 6,000 all-new 2014 crew cab models, and the “days to turn” is 10 days.
- The Chevrolet Cruze set an all-time monthly sales record, and Chevrolet Volt and Chevrolet Sonic each had their best-ever June sales.
- The Chevrolet Equinox had its best month ever with sales up 14 percent. Equinox deliveries have increased for 18 consecutive months.
- Chevrolet Impala retail deliveries rose 62 percent.
- Buick retail sales have increased for 14 consecutive months and the brand had its best June retail sales in seven years, on the strength of Buick Verano sales.
Calendar Year-to-Date Sales Highlights (vs. 2012)
- Cadillac was the industry’s fastest-growing luxury brand with a first-half sales increase of 33%.
- Retail sales of GM’s redesigned medium crossovers have been very strong: the Buick Enclave was up 24%, the Chevrolet Traverse 21% and the GMC Acadia 16%.
- Crossover sales were up 16% compared with a year ago, passenger car sales were up 1% and truck sales were up 11%.
- Large pickup sales were up 23%, including a 49% increase in Silverado and Sierra sales to small business customers, who are benefiting from the recovery in housing and overall economic growth.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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