DETROIT -- Deliveries of the Lordstown-produced Chevrolet Cruze totaled 21,607 in March, exceeding sales of 20,000 units for the seventh month and marking its seventh consecutive month of higher year-over-year sales, General Motors Co. announced this morning.
However, Alan Batey, Chevrolet vice president, said he doesn’t anticipate hitting any constraints in terms being able to adequately supply dealers. "I think we're going to be able to meet demand," he told reporters during a conference call today. He also doesn't anticipate any need to "discount this great vehicle to chase volume." The Cruze has a 73-day supply in the field, he reported.
"We're going to hold the great value that it represents," he said, and predicted "continued solid performance" for the Cruze.
The vehicle's performance contributed to a 17% increase year-over-year for the Chevrolet brand during the month of March, GM reported. Total March sales in the United States for the automaker, 231,052, were up 12% over last year.
GM passenger car sales increased 22%, with small and compact car sales up a combined 62%. Compact crossover sales were up 47% and midsize car sales were up 38%. Full-size pickup sales were up 14%.
"Inside these numbers you can see that GM's balanced product mix was at work as it has since before gas prices started to rise," said Don Johnson, vice president of sales operations.
"Chevrolet in particular had a great month," he said. "Every Chevrolet passenger car nameplate saw a year-over-year sales increase."
Sales of the Sonic have increased steadily since its August 2011 launch, reaching 8,251 vehicles in March. Volt sales of 2,289 were 50 percent higher than in December 2011, which had been the vehicle's best month since its launch.
Johnson cited purchases by oil and gas companies as one of the factors driving sales of pickup s to large commercial customers, as well as longer-term commercial truck rentals. "We're seeing a lot more activity in the oil and gas segment," he said. In terms of smaller commercial customers, he attributed demand to agriculture, home renovation and do-it-yourself activity.
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.