GM Sales Increase 15%; Best Sales Since 2008
DETROIT -- General Motors Co. reported sales increased 15% during August compared to the same period a year ago, led by strong sales of the Chevrolet Equinox, Cruze and Silverado pickup.
GM said it sold 275,847 new vehicles during the month. Retail sales were up 22%, while fleet sales were down 8%.
It was GM's best sales month since 2008 and the highest of 2013, the company said.
Sales of the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze dipped 8% versus August 2012, but saw a solid 23,909 new units sold. Last month's sales compares to 25,975 new Cruzes sold during the same period last year, one of the small car's most productive sales months ever.
"Over 36 months, we have sold exactly 677,030 Cruzes in the United States," said Kurt McNeil, vice president, U.S. sales operations. "We've been able to replicate its success with other global products such as the Spark, the Sonic and more. It's been a steady, upward trajectory for us in many respects."
Cruze sales are up 18.2% through the first eight months of the year.
"The second half of 2013 is off to a very solid start for GM and our model-year change over, and new product launches are going smoothly," McNeil said. "We have a lot of momentum and we feel good about the direction of the U.S. economy as we prepare to launch even more products."
Crossover sales were up 34%, with the Chevrolet Equinox turning it its best month ever with 25,073 units sold. Other crossovers such as the GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX also saw their best sales month ever, GM reported.
The Chevrolet Volt, GM's electric hybrid, also experienced its best sales month ever, with
Full-size pickups, including the top-selling Silverado, were up 15%, while passenger car deliveries were up 8%.
GM estimated the U.S. auto industry's annual sales rate for August at 16.3 million vehicles.
Chrysler Group LLC also reported higher sales for the month. The Auburn Hills automaker said its sales increased 12% on 165,552 new cars and trucks.
Ford Motor Co. also reported its sales in August were up 12%.
Toyota sale its sales surge 23%.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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