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GM's Vehicle Sales Down 5% in October
"DETROIT -- General Motors dealers sold 346,058 new cars and trucks in October, down 5% compared to year-ago sales, officials announced earlier today. GM's truck sales (210,996 units) were down 4% and car sales (135,062 units) were down 5%. "GM's October sales results were not as strong as we had expected, but not entirely surprising given our exceptionally strong sales in September," said John Smith, group vice president GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Our launch vehicles performed well in October, as did utilities, which were up and remain on pace to set another industry record for the calendar year. We expect stronger car sales in the months ahead as Pontiac G6, Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Cobalt continue ramping up production."Despite substantial selling price incentives, sales of the phased-out Chevrolet Cavalier, which was built at GM's assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, dropped 58.8% compared with October 2003, posting sales of 9,273 units last month versus 22,499 last October. Year-to-date, a total of 172,554 Cavaliers were sold compared with 216,534 through October of last year. Sales of the Pontiac Sunfire, also built at the Lordstown plant, dropped 49.7% to 1,804 units last month. The 29,367 units sold through October represent a drop of 19.8%.GM's truck sales in October declined 4% versus year-ago levels. Sport utility vehicle deliveries were up 1% and maintained their record-setting sales pace. GM again led the industry in utility sales in October, surpassing the 100,000-unit sales mark for the seventh month this year. October utility deliveries were led by strong sales of two new entries, the Chevrolet Equinox and Cadillac SRX. Mid-size utility sales increased 4%, with strong sales results for Chevrolet TrailBlazer, up 32% and GMC Envoy, which gained 29%.Mid-size pickup deliveries increased 26% on the strength of the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. This is the second consecutive month that medium pickup sales were up 25% or more compared to year-ago levels, officials said.While GM's total car sales declined 5% compared to last October, several vehicles had year-over-year increases including Cadillac XLR; Chevrolet Malibu, Impala, Corvette and Monte Carlo; Pontiac Bonneville; and Buick LeSabre. Additionally, Pontiac G6 and Cadillac STS sales are exceptionally brisk as production increases."