GM Reports July Sales, Down 18.5%

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/708010445

One bright spot: GM managed a 15 percent increase in retail sales to individual customers. The automaker has worked to increase retail sales while pairing back less profitable sales to rental fleets.

Screw overall sales, this number is more important.

[zete]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

I agree with you. If gm offered 8 years 150 000 miles bumper to bumper warrantie on all of their cars. They would not need any incentives to move cars. They would sell very well.

And the irony to me is that the incentives GM has on most cars equals the cost of the extended warranty. It's totally bizarre they don't realize this themselves.

[zete]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Screw overall sales, this number is more important.

Amen. I's all about profitable sales. Retail (and certain, corporate fleet) = profitable sales.

[zete]

Is there a breakdown of the Tundra sales in terms of "Fleet" vs. "Retail". That would be an interesting read and show the breakdown. I've seen more and more Toyotas at rental dealerships of late. The Enterprise near me is littered with Corollas and Camrys.

[likearock00]

Ugh, you guys are so wishy-washy. One day we get notice that GM was profitable last quarter and everyone clapped, now we get this and suddenly GM is finished. Which is it?

GM has a great plan in action. They are pushing every new product as hard as they can into production, eliminating these "employee pricing for everyone" sales, reducing fleet sales, and reducing their incentives. GM is finally standing up against Toyota and ending the give them away to keep numbers up ideology. I think it is great and will see the General rise above their recent flounderings.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by Perian

Care to guess which new Texas built Japanese vehicle beat the T900 Silverado?

But it didn't beat the Avalanche. We have a whole thread on that issue of CR.


Will the Aura ever become a decent seller? This is getting ridiculous.

[VCDJ]

Originally Posted by zete

And the irony to me is that the incentives GM has on most cars equals the cost of the extended warranty. It's totally bizarre they don't realize this themselves.

I know they think incentives are better then longer warranty.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by zete

Is there a breakdown of the Tundra sales in terms of "Fleet" vs. "Retail". That would be an interesting read and show the breakdown. I've seen more and more Toyotas at rental dealerships of late. The Enterprise near me is littered with Corollas and Camrys.

Toyota models tend to be less than 10% fleet (and Honda is close to 0%), while quite a few domestic models are over 50% fleet.

http://www.fleet-central.com/af/stats2007/cars_web.pdf
http://www.fleet-central.com/af/stat...trucks_web.pdf

[PrenupTB]

Originally Posted by zete

Amen. I's all about profitable sales. Retail (and certain, corporate fleet) = profitable sales.

GM is not stupid. Even with that warranty, they would still have to discount all of their cars. No one wants a car or truck of theirs on the coasts. It's looked down upon.

[Highlander]

Jeez... The Tundra's increase over last year is semi-irrelevant. The old Tunda was a lame duck that no one was buying because the new one was coming out and it was a weak, not really a full-size truck anyway. Yes, they now stole some sales from GM with the new model, not to mention the boat-load of cash on the hood (taken from the GM sales playbook of a few years ago). It's known the Tundra wasn't moving without the cash. MT's reviews gave the nod to the Silverado also.

In this small midwestern town, I'd estimate there are about 35 GMT-900's for every one new Tundra. Obviously, this isn't a scientific study, and I'm sure the ratio is different in urban areas, but it's what I see where people still need the truck to serve as a truck and not as a sedan with a bed.

As a side note... Zete, are you trying to boost your post count or what? 2 in a row, 3 in a row....

[Pucks]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

R u just trolling?

Just a bit, don't you think?

[TahoeMikeZ71]

Originally Posted by PrenupTB

GM is not stupid. Even with that warranty, they would still have to discount all of their cars. No one wants a car or truck of theirs on the coasts. It's looked down upon.

People want the GTO, Vette, GMC models, and the Escalade etc on the coasts.

[Pucks]

Originally Posted by PrenupTB

GM is not stupid. Even with that warranty, they would still have to discount all of their cars. No one wants a car or truck of theirs on the coasts. It's looked down upon.

That's because people like you worry about what other people think about YOUR car.

Be original

Do something different

Don't follow the crowd

[airglow]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

Prefer them over other makes. They are down 27% this month. Last month they were down Another 20%. And for the year they are down. Look at toyota up more then 100%. And people perfer gmt 900 over others. That explains why tundra is up more then 100% and it outsells siera.

Hate to throw facts against your rants, but here goes.

GM OWNS the Full Size SUV Segment. Someone can look it up, but I believe they have about 2/3 of this segment, and they've gained market share in 2007. If Toyota and Nissan really cared about making money on every vehicle, they would drop the Sequoia and Armada, because they each have been relegated to rounding error market shares in this declining, but insanely profitable segment.

As for the pickups, the two main problems with the Silverado/Sierra are styling and lack of incentives. Toyota has two huge advantages, Dodge like incentives along with pent-up demand from all the Toyota Cult Members who FINALLY have a real truck available from their Church.

By the way I'd rate truck styling:
1. F250/350
2. F150
3. Dodge Ram
4. Sierra
5. Silverado
6. Titan
7. Tundra (i.e., the chrome lipped catfish/carp!)

One of the biggest reasons GM dominates in Full Size SUV’s, but not in pickups is STYLING. The Tahoe, Suburban and Escalade are all fantastic looking!! I’m not a fan of the Yukon front end, but it’s fine other than that. On the other hand the Silverado front end is too wide and bland looking, the GMC looks better, but still doesn’t compare to Ford or Dodge looks-wise.

[Pucks]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Screw overall sales, this number is more important.

But that 15% increase is versus what? Certainly not 06. They are cherry picking numbers as all companies will do. I'm sure thay are down versus 06 on a retail basis too. Not good when your cash cow is in it's first model year.