GM Reports October Sales of 346,058, Down 5 Percent

[tgagneguam]

GM Reports October Sales of 346,058, Down 5 Percent

SUV Sales Remain On Record Selling Pace for Calendar Year
Cadillac On Pace for Best Sales Since 1990

DETROIT - General Motors dealers sold 346,058 new cars and trucks in October, down 5 percent compared to year-ago sales. GM's truck sales (210,996) were down 4 percent and car sales (135,062) were down 5 percent.

"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."

GM Truck Sales

GM's truck sales in October declined 4 percent versus year-ago levels. Sport utility vehicle deliveries were up 1 percent 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 percent, with strong sales results for Chevrolet TrailBlazer, up 32 percent and GMC Envoy, which gained 29 percent.

Mid-size pickup deliveries increased 26 percent 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 percent or more compared to year-ago levels.

GM Car Sales

While GM's total car sales declined 5 percent 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 ramps up.

Divisional Highlights

Chevrolet - Chevrolet sales in October were up 4 percent compared to year-ago levels. Car sales increased 21 percent, paced by Malibu, which had a 157 percent sales increase over last year. Corvette sales rose 39 percent in October. On the truck side, in addition to Equinox and Colorado, TrailBlazer had record October sales, up 32 percent from year-ago levels. Total sales for the calendar year are up 5 percent, and car sales have risen 15 percent.

Cadillac - Cadillac sales remain on track for its best calendar year sales results since 1990. October sales were up 3 percent compared to year-ago levels. Truck sales continued on a record setting pace, improving 17 percent in October and 54 percent for the calendar year. SRX deliveries were up 115.5 percent, and Escalade ESV sales were up 24 percent. Total sales are up 9 percent calendar year-to-date.

GMC - In addition to solid Canyon sales, Envoy had another strong month with deliveries up 29 percent compared to last year. Despite being off last October's sales pace (-4 percent), GMC sales for the calendar year-to-date are up 6 percent. GMC remains poised to exceed 600,000 deliveries for the first time in its history.

Pontiac - While October sales were off 12 percent, Pontiac sales for the calendar year-to-date are up 5 percent. Car sales for the calendar year have improved 9 percent, led by Bonneville sales, which continued to improve year-over-year with a 33 percent sales increase in October and a 38 percent increase for the calendar year and Grand Prix, with deliveries up 15 percent for the calendar year.

GM Sales October 2004

[tgagneguam]

Perhaps of interest:

LaCrosse: 619
Terraza: 4

STS: 2,308
SRX: 2,519

Aveo: 5,275
Malibu: 17,221 (+157.2)
Impala: 22,939 (+52.1)
Equinox: 10,367
Uplander: 32
Trailblazer: 26,489 (+31.6) and 234,344 YTD (+7.7)

Envoy: 11,185 (+28.8) and 116,750 YTD (+10.3)

G6: 4,167
GTO: 1,258(?!)
SV6: 7

VUE: 6,022 (+6.7) and 75,915 (+9.2)

9-2X: 334

[AdmiralViscen]

Has the Trailblazer been in the top 10 sales charts before?

G6 sales look disappointing, when did they start being sold?

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

Has the Trailblazer been in the top 10 sales charts before?

G6 sales look disappointing, when did they start being sold?

"...Additionally, Pontiac G6 and Cadillac STS sales are exceptionally brisk as production ramps up."

I agree with the above quote, and I'm happy that GM isn't boosting production in the shortterm while sacrificing quality; I'm not sure that even the vaunted Japanese could ramp up to full production within 2-3 months of the startup date on the production of a new vehicle. At some point this vehicle is going to have to move at least 15,000-17,000 units per month to meet its sales goals. That will happen presumably next year, when the coupe and convertible versions of the G6 join the sedan.

[AdmiralViscen]

Yea, I read that line. I asked when they started selling it, because the Aveo outsold it for the month.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

Yea, I read that line. I asked when they started selling it, because the Aveo outsold it for the month.

Yikes, relax.

I believe they officially started to sell to dealers in September; if you go to the above website, search for older press releases, it looks like the G6 sold 924 units in September and 4,167 in October for a YTD total of 5,091.

[AdmiralViscen]

...I am relaxed.

I'm surprised those numbers aren't higher. Is that because they are they selling out?

[runningshoes]

well, i've been waiting for mine for 4 of the promised 6-8 weeks it takes to get one fresh from the factory...

[mrfunji]

Ooh ooh 43 CSVs sold. Yaahoooooooo!

[Erunion]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

...I am relaxed.

I'm surprised those numbers aren't higher. Is that because they are they selling out?

Dealers wont have full inventory of G6s, yet. And they still have Grand Ams on the lot.

[Erunion]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Perhaps of interest:

GTO: 1,258(?!)

The previous month
GTO: 2,678

[HEVguy]

My local dealer didn't get any G6's until about 3 weeks ago (so they didn't have them the full month of Oct). When I talked to them (~2.5 weeks ago), they said they sold one GT immediately, have two more GT's and one base model. I don't know how many they sold by end of Oct, but when I was there I test drove the base model and was impressed (I discovered how small the "negatives" are that some have nitpicked and even exaggerated), but that is a discussion for another board.

[Boi350Sierra]

Hmm thats intresting. Those sales will keep Trailblazer and Impala on top of 10 best selling cars. Maybe the Malibu will show up on the list too. This is great news more GM cars on the road the better. Cobalt will blow cavalier sale's out the door. Any one know the numbers on the Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado and there GMC Twins. Is the Aveo still out selling the comp. Is it down 5 percent because of missing Old's or because there still just trying to get rid of 04's.

[ByTheLake]

Speaking of interesting, take a look at these figures from Automotive News. I'll not make any commentary ... simply post these figures for your consumption:

Sales winners and losers
10 months 2004
Winners Pct. chg.
1. Scion 932.8%
2. Suzuki 28.2%
3. Nissan Division 25.3%
4. Chrysler Division 23.6%
5. Acura Division 15.8%

Losers Pct. chg.
1. Mitsubishi -35.8%
2. Saab -20.9%
3. Saturn -20.7%
4. Hummer -20.2%
5. Land Rover -19.2%

[gmwsag]

First Kerry loses...now this! Bad news for GM....