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DETROIT September 4, 2007; GM dealers in the United States delivered388,168 vehicles in August, up more than 5 percent compared with year-agomonthly sales, a strong performance that resulted in an anticipatedhighest-of-the-year market share of nearly 26 percent. Brisk sales offull-size pickups and crossover SUVs led the increase.
"Bucking the trend in the industry, we were able to post healthy salesresults in August. When combining retail sales with our growing commercialbusiness, our sales were up when compared with last August. Importantly,last month was our third-best retail month of the year," said Mark LaNeve,vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing."With the double-digit decline in daily rental sales so far this year, andan overall market that remains challenging and competitive, we continue tostabilize our retail share and pricing in the market."
Customers are also recognizing the quality of GM products. A recentstudy ranked Buick number one (tied with Lexus) in vehicle dependability.Another customer service survey has every GM brand above the industryaverage score -better than Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Ford and LandRover. "The myth of import superiority is being destroyed. In countlessindependent consumer surveys, blogs and expert reviews, it is becomingincreasingly evident that we build the highest quality vehicles and deliverthem with world-class service," LaNeve noted.
Overall incentive spending was flat compared with a year ago. Augustinventories were down about 34,000 vehicles to approximately 945,000vehicles.
"August performance shows we're hitting the sweet spot on truckprograms, and our award-winning Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sizepickups are making important contributions on the retail side," LaNeveadded. "Importantly, these vehicles contributed a 30-percent increase infull-size pickup retail sales, with Sierra kicking in more than 22,500retail sales in the month. We are also pleased with the ongoing success ofthe GMC Acadia, Saturn OUTLOOK and Buick Enclave. They are driving ourmid-utility crossover segment growth, which is up more than 400 percentcompared with a year ago despite short inventories. As with many of ourvehicles, these all-new crossovers offer segment-leading fuel economy,terrific performance and outstanding value."
The GMC Acadia, Saturn OUTLOOK and Buick Enclave together had retailsales of more than 10,400 vehicles, pushing the significant retail increasein GM's mid-crossover segment.
GM has 24 vehicles in the 2007 model lineup that achieve anEPA-estimated 30 mpg highway or better.
Warranty coverage has increased substantially as a reason consumers citewhen buying a new GM vehicle. GM's 5 Year/100,000 Mile Powertrain LimitedWarranty continues to be a better choice for customers. GM's coveragefocuses on the complete ownership experience and includes other provisionsthat competitors do not offer, including transferability to the next owner,more complete coverage of parts, and coverage for new and certified usedvehicles. In addition, GM offers superior complementary programs, such ascourtesy transportation and roadside assistance. "GM provides the bestcoverage in the industry and takes care of the vehicle and the owner likeno other vehicle manufacturer," LaNeve added.
Certified Used Vehicles
August 2007 sales for all certified GM brands, including GM CertifiedUsed Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saturn CertifiedPre-Owned Vehicles, Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, and HUMMER CertifiedPre-Owned Vehicles, were 45,195 vehicles, up 1 percent from last August.Total year-to-date certified GM sales are 361,077 vehicles, up 4 percentfrom the same period last year.
GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-sellingmanufacturer-certified used brand, posted 39,905 sales, up 5 percent fromlast August. Year-to-date sales for GM Certified Used Vehicles are 317,398vehicles, up 6 percent from the same period in 2006.
Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted August sales of 3,162vehicles, down 12 percent from last August. Saturn Certified Pre-OwnedVehicles sold 1,421 vehicles in August, down 28 percent. Saab CertifiedPre-Owned Vehicles sold 598 vehicles, down 36 percent, and HUMMER CertifiedPre-Owned Vehicles sold 109 vehicles, up 35 percent.
"GM Certified dealers turned in a strong performance in August withsales of 39,905 vehicles, an increase of nearly 5 percent from lastAugust," said LaNeve. "Our dealer network, the largest in the certifiedsegment, is doing a great job providing customers with the wide selection,quality, value and peace-of-mind assurances they're seeking in a certifiedused vehicle."
GM North America Reports August 2007 Production; 2007 Third-QuarterProduction Forecast is Revised at 1.050 Million Vehicles; 2007Fourth-Quarter Production Forecast Set at 1 Million Vehicles
In August, GM North America produced 437,000 vehicles (152,000 cars and285,000 trucks). This is down 28,000 vehicles or 6 percent compared toAugust 2006 when the region produced 465,000 vehicles (179,000 cars and286,000 trucks). (Production totals include joint venture production of21,000 vehicles in August 2007 and 26,000 vehicles in August 2006.)
The region's 2007 third-quarter production forecast is revised at 1.050million vehicles (377,000 cars and 673,000 trucks), down 25,000 vehicles or2 percent from last month's guidance. Additionally, GM North America'sinitial 2007 fourth-quarter production forecast is set at 1 millionvehicles (334,000 cars and 666,000 trucks), down 107,000 vehicles or 10percent from fourth-quarter 2006 actuals. In the fourth-quarter of 2006 theregion produced 1.107 million vehicles (446,000 cars and 661,000trucks).
GM also announced 2007 revised third-quarter and initial fourth-quarterproduction forecasts for its international regions.
GM Europe - The region's 2007 third-quarter production forecast isunchanged at 395,000 vehicles. In the third-quarter of 2006 the regionbuilt 374,000 vehicles. The region's initial 2007 fourth-quarter productionforecast is set at 452,000 vehicles. In the fourth-quarter of 2006 theregion built 443,000 vehicles.
GM Asia Pacific -The region's 2007 third-quarter production forecast isrevised at 492,000 vehicles, down 26,000 vehicles from last month'sguidance. In the third-quarter of 2006 the region built 433,000 vehicles.The region's initial 2007 fourth-quarter production forecast is set at631,000 vehicles. In the fourth-quarter of 2006 the region built 509,000vehicles.
GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - The region's 2007third-quarter production forecast is unchanged at 258,000 vehicles. In thethird-quarter of 2006 the region built 215,000 vehicles. The region'sinitial 2007 fourth-quarter production forecast is set at 257,000 vehicles.In the fourth-quarter of 2006 the region built 215,000 vehicles.
General Motors Corp. , the world's largest automaker, has been theannual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM todayemploys about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters inDetroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006,nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under thefollowing brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden,HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary isthe industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
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