GM Canada May Sales Down 2.9%

[Family Man]

General Motors of Canada May Sales
(Non-adjusted Sales Results - May 2006 has 25 selling days vs. 24 days in May 2005)

Oshawa, Ontario (Thursday, June 01, 2006) – For May 2006, General Motors of Canada dealers delivered 44,361 units, a decrease of 2.9% over the same month last year. Passenger car sales for the month were down slightly by 1.2% to 22,793 units, and trucks were off by 4.7% to 21,568 units.

Marc Comeau, GM of Canada’s vice-president of sales, service, and marketing said "As GM’s turnaround continues we are staying on strategy to reduce our past dependence on certain less profitable daily rentals and continue focusing our pricing on an overall value approach for GM customers. While some May sales reductions were planned, the key is our new vehicles are taking hold and creating momentum in the Canadian marketplace. Pontiac sales led with an 8.4 % gain, Saab was up 4.6% and the Saturn product renaissance helped increase sales by 4.9%. GM Canada’s small cars made huge sales gains in May led by Chevrolet Cobalt with a positive increase of 78%.”

Sales Highlights for May 2006

· Chevrolet Cobalt increased sales 78.5% achieving their best sales month ever
· The new G6 and G5 Pursuit took Pontiac to the lead of the GM lineup this month
· Pontiac small cars saw huge sales gains with G5 Pursuit up over 200% and G6 over 300%
· GM small utilities which include the Saturn Vue, Pontiac Torrent, Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet HHR increased sales in May by 82%
· Hummer H3 also continues to hit the sweet spot in the market with sales increasing over 200%
· Cadillac trucks enjoyed a strong month. Sales were up 20.8% with the all new Escalade posting strong increases
· Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are up a combined 34.2%

http://email.gmcanada.com/corpdb/cac...0?OpenDocument

[paul8488]

Okay the results in Canada are almost never the mirror of the US. Colorado and Canyon sales UP 34.2%?!? Whohoo! Cobalt best-ever monthly sales? G5 and G6 up 200 and 300%?!? Small crossovers up 82%?!? Hummer (a big thirsty SUV) up 200%?!? This is awesome! Okay, so overall sales are down, which isn't the best news... but I do like that there are some very bright spots too!

[5.3Avalanche]

Sales were down at first due to the tax decrease that doesn't take effect for another month. People were waiting for that time. But, now GM offers a "save the tax now" event up here. Our GST is decreasing to 6% from 7%. Our dealer was DEAD right when the tax decrease was announced and before GM came out with their own promotion.

[mpsrent]

June, July and August will be the interesting months, when sales are compared with the Employee Cost programs of last summer.

[doh]

Total Volumes compared to last May:


Ford
up
8.4%
Retail sales up 9.8%


GM
down
2.9%
Retail down 0.3%


Chrysler
up
21.4%
Retail up 8.3%


Honda
up
16.5%

Toyota
up
20.1%

Total Industry
up
6.7%

Fords Highlight!

Ranger
up
72.1%
Best May since 1994!

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Family Man

Sales Highlights for May 2006

· Chevrolet Cobalt increased sales 78.5% achieving their best sales month ever
· The new G6 and G5 Pursuit took Pontiac to the lead of the GM lineup this month
· Pontiac small cars saw huge sales gains with G5 Pursuit up over 200% and G6 over 300%
· GM small utilities which include the Saturn Vue, Pontiac Torrent, Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet HHR increased sales in May by 82%
· Hummer H3 also continues to hit the sweet spot in the market with sales increasing over 200%
· Cadillac trucks enjoyed a strong month. Sales were up 20.8% with the all new Escalade posting strong increases
· Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are up a combined 34.2%

The Pontiac numbers don't really surprise me. Pontiacs have always been really popular up here. The Escalada and Hummer increases are surprising in light of the high price of gas though this could be a statistical anomoly based on the fact that its easier to increase sales by 200% when you sell a small number to begin with.