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July is Best Sales Month This Year for General Motors
DETROIT -- General Motors had its best sales month so far this year in July, as dealers sold 459,263 new cars and trucks. The total was down 3%, however, compared to very strong year-ago sales.GM's overall truck sales for July (278,454 units) were down 3% from record year-ago levels, while car sales (180,809 units) declined 4.5%.Sales of the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire, produced at GM's assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, were down substantially for July. The 19,992 Cavaliers sold last month represent a drop of 30.4% over July 2003; year-to-date, sales of 123,870 units are down 20.6%.A total of 3,777 Sunfires were sold in July, a decrease of 28.7% year-over-year. Sales of 22,260 units from January through July represent a decrease of 12.3% compared to the same period in 2003."July was a good month for GM, rebounding nicely from June," saysJohn Smith, group vice president of GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "We had solid growth in both sales volume and share, led by record utility sales and increasing momentum of our launch vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Malibu. Additionally, we had strong luxury sales due in large part to the continued growth at Cadillac. Over the next few months, GM will launch several important vehicles such as the Pontiac G6, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac STS and Chevrolet Cobalt. These products, combined with a strengthening economy will drive continued sales momentum throughout the balance of the year."Earlier this week, GM announced pricing and special pre-production ordering incentives for the Cobalt, which will be manufactured at the Lordstown plant (read story).GM's truck lineup had record July sales, led by record GMC sales (61,269) and the second-best month ever for sport utility deliveries (137,181), which were up 11%. This is the fourth month this year in which GM utility sales topped 100,000 units, a monthly sales benchmark no other manufacturer has achieved. Sales of large utilities (49,891) increased 2%. Large luxury utilities (9,259) were up 23%, led by increases for the Escalade and Escalade ESV. Small utilities (17,131) jumped 49%, paced by the Saturn Vue (8,846), which was up 15%.Sales of GM full-size pickups (92,509) reached their highest level for the year and led the industry.GM car sales totaled 180,809 units. Luxury car sales (23,608) improved 7 %, led by record Cadillac CTS deliveries (5,264), up 26 % and DeVille sales (8,689), up 7 %. Malibu reached its highest sales level since it was introduced with 23,979 deliveries, a noteworthy 124 % increase compared to last year.July sales for all GM certified used vehicle brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned, were 46,670 units, up 4% from the previous month and up 11 % from July 2003. GM Certified Used Vehicles set a new monthly sales record for the certified pre-owned segment with July sales of 38,940 units, up 11% compared to year-ago levels and up 4% from last month."GM set the pace in the certified pre-owned segment in July, with GM Certified Used Vehicles posting a new monthly sales record for the category, and Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned and Used Cars from Saturn recording double-digit increases," Smith says. "Across all brands, GM continues to drive the certified pre-owned category, with year-to-date sales up 10% from the same period in 2003."In July GM North America produced 246,500 vehicles (90,000 cars and 156,500 trucks) in North America, compared to 288,000 vehicles (103,000 cars and 185,000 trucks) produced in July 2003. Production totals include joint venture production of 15,000 vehicles in July 2004 and 12,000 in July 2003.Also, GM North America's 2004 third-quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 1.2 million vehicles (475,000 cars and 725,000 trucks). In the third quarter of 2003, GM North America built 1.245 million vehicles (492,000 cars and 753,000 trucks).General Motors Corp., the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs about 325,000 globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries, and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries."