Chevrolet Passes Toyota, Ranks As America's Top-Selling Certified Used Vehicle

[TaHoE]

GM Certified Used Vehicles Sets New Monthly Certified Sales Record In October

November 15th, 2004

www.GMInsidenews.com

DETROIT - Coming off record monthly sales of 40,666 units in October, GM Certified Used Vehicles, the number-one selling manufacturer-certified brand*, today announced that Chevrolet is now the top-selling certified used vehicle in America, based on Autodata Corp. October 2004 data for single-line make certified used vehicle sales. The announcement was made by Jeff Heichel, Director, GM Used Vehicle Activities.

According to the Autodata U.S. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Retail Sales - October 2004 summary report, GM Certified Used Vehicles - which includes Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC and Oldsmobile models - has sold 218,451 Chevrolet certified units through October 2004, exceeding by 26,240 the 192,211 certified units sold during the same period by Toyota, the previous category leader in single-line make certified used vehicle sales.

"Chevrolet's position as the top-selling single-line make certified used vehicle brand is a strong testament to the excellent value offered by Chevrolet cars and trucks and the active engagement of the GM Certified dealer network," said Heichel. "Certified GM sales across all brands have increased more than tenfold in the last four years, as our dealers provide customers a positive purchase and ownership experience and the peace of mind that comes from buying fully inspected and reconditioned vehicles from the GM brands they trust."

Through October 2004, market share for all of GM's certified brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned, is 33.5 percent, up 1.7 points year-to-date from the same period in 2003, with GM Certified Used Vehicles posting a 28.1 percent share through October, up 1.5 points.

Chevrolet comprises approximately 60 percent of all GM Certified Used Vehicles sold, with the Chevrolet Silverado ranking as the top-selling GM Certified Used Vehicles model.

GM Certified Used Vehicles sold 397,638 units in 2003, a new record for the manufacturer-certified pre-owned vehicle segment*. GM Certified Used Vehicles has been the top-selling certified brand since 2002.

About GM Certified Used Vehicles
GM Certified Used Vehicles, the number-one selling manufacturer-certified brand*, are high-quality, reconditioned vehicles, available at participating Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and GMC dealers. All models are six years old or newer, have 60,000 miles or less, are reconditioned to stringent GM Certified Used Vehicles standards and must undergo a rigorous 110-plus-point inspection and reconditioning process. All GM Certified Used Vehicles are supported by a three-month/3,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty, a three-day/150-mile customer satisfaction guarantee, and 24-hour roadside assistance during the term of the warranty. For more information about GM Certified Used Vehicles, visit www.gmcertified.com, which features exclusive vehicle listings.

About General Motors
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs 325,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com. * Autodata Corp., U.S. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Retail Sales - 2003.





CONTACT(S):
Jim Labadie
313-394-0322
jim.labadie@mullen.com

Rebecca Harris
313-667-2634
rebecca.l.harris@gm.com

[nsap]

Excellent news... We just hope that the trent continues with everything, not just used vehicles.

[Ten Pounds of Gold]

Originally Posted by nsap

Excellent news... We just hope that the trent continues with everything, not just used vehicles.

This is actually a great start; if you can trust their used vehicles you'll have no problems trusting their new vehicles.

I had never heard of this thing until Toyota started ballyhoeing it in all their commercioals.

[ibechip]

I think this mostly due to the recent quality improvements in GM vehicles. They aren't thought so much as low quality cheap vehicles as they once were.

[tgagneguam]

The marketing divisions must be envious of GM's CuV's market share. Maybe it portends stabilized market share?

[GTOken]

Did they change the warranty rules for the GM Certified vehicles in the last couple of years? I bought a Certified 2000 GMC Safari with 23k miles in October 2000. It came with a 48k mile, 48 month warranty. It was a selling feature of the Certified car sales. It was a big factor in my decision to buy since this vehicle still had more warranty LEFT on it than a new vehicle! And I got it for about $10k less than a new one. I still have it and its been a terrific vehicle. I got a tranny and AC system replaced during the extended portion of the warranty, so it really came in handy.

[Ming]

Chevy vehicles lose their value so quickly after driving off the lot - and a lot of that is not really deserved, that smart customers will buy a 2 year old Venture or Impala rather than buy a new one. Also, the used vehicle price generally drops with heavy incentives, making them even more attractive.

It is indeed a testament to the customer's perception of Chevy as a maker of reliable product. Now let's hope Chevrolet dumps old design, generally unreliable (per Consumer Reports, etc.) product like the Blazer and Astro, and gets rid of older design engines as well --- so that today's buyers of certified GM vehicles will not be disappointed and will come back for more.

[Boi350Sierra]

Wow thats awesome sales leader in both new and used of all car manufactures. GM is on a roll with the new Full Size SUV's and Trucks coming out it can only get better. I only wish they could bring out the new models faster.

[quinnp12]

finally, toyota is no longer allowed to advertise their used vehicle sales. another step for GM as the battleship continues to turn

[mrfunji]

I dunno who puts the picture in - but I'm sure there has to be a better pictures of a used Chevy. That Malibu looks abused rather than used.

But - good news for Chevy. Lets hope they can also reach their 3 million a year milestone.

[prod]

Correct me if Im wrong, but I dont see this as a good thing. To me it just means that more owners traded in their chevy early. It only makes mention of sales volume, not price. In my opinion GM cars are a great used deal because of the huge depreciation more than the quality.

[espo19047]

Originally Posted by prod

Correct me if Im wrong, but I dont see this as a good thing. To me it just means that more owners traded in their chevy early. It only makes mention of sales volume, not price. In my opinion GM cars are a great used deal because of the huge depreciation more than the quality.

Lease returns and lease pull aheads....Nothing wrong with this..

[Cassie]

I think a good bit of these cars and trucks come from returned fleet inventories also. If GM is buying these cars/trucks back in bulk and selling them at this rate, wow they must be making a killing with this.

[ponchoman49]

Wow, a 3 month/3k warrenty. How generous Chevy is seeing as how they have to give that anyway if the car has less than 60k miles! And considering how much value most Chevys lose in there first year it's no wonder many average income people like myself who can't afford 25-30k Impala LS's and Montes and 20-25k Malibus have to settle for these half priced specials. The funny thing is that many of these "certified" cars that have been "extensively" gone through have more flaws than your average one or two owner trade in. Cigarette burns, poor body work, misaligned doors and moldings etc. I just saw a Dodge commercial that advertised there "certified" cars as having an extended 8/80 powertrain warrenty. Ford I think offered a 3/36 on it's "certified" cars. GM needs to offer something better because there vehicles in my experience still need plenty of work after the sale like my 2000 Impala did. I think this strong showing is due to the fact that so many Chevys are sold as fleet/rental cars that there are more of these on the used market than most other brands.

[paul8488]

I didn't know so many people were buying used cars! It's crazy the price they stick on some 2 and 3 year old cars... I've seen 2 year old Cavaliers with 40,000 km and $12,000 on the window... when for a while you could get a new one (albeit bare-bones) for $10,995 at a great interest rate! Though I guess there is room to bargain on used cars, so the window sticker means little. Still, at the rate most banks charge for used cars, it'd be a tough call. Especially when with some GM's the rebates on a new car almost cancel out the depreciation of a used car!