General Motors August sales up 10 percent over 2011
(September 5, 2012) DETROIT — General Motors has reported August sales of 240,520 vehicles in the United States, up 10 percent compared with a year ago. GM increased its sales to retail customers by 11 percent, making August its best retail month of the year. Sales to fleet customers were up 6 percent compared with a year ago. All four GM brands posted higher total and retail sales.
Thanks in part to extensive national advertising during the Olympic Games, Chevrolet passenger car sales were up 25 percent, with the Spark, Sonic, Cruze and Volt all posting their best-ever monthly sales. In addition, the Chevrolet Equinox set an August record behind its 22 percent year-over-year sales increase.
“The single message Chevrolet communicated this summer was ‘confidence’ and it rang true with customers when they saw how our product lineup is being transformed,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “All four of our brands are building momentum behind new products so we’re very well positioned as the economy continues to slowly improve.”
Other sales highlights for August include an 11 percent year over year increase in Cadillac sales driven by strong demand for the SRX crossover, the Escalade and the new XTS large sedan. Buick sales increased 12 percent on the strength of the Verano, which has seen nine back-to-back monthly sales increases. Buick recorded its best retail sales since September 2007. GMC sales were up 4 percent, following a 35 percent reduction in fleet sales. GMC Acadia sales rose 26 percent in August and GMC Terrain sales were up 16 percent.
GM is in the midst of an aggressive rollout of new products in the United States. Some 70 percent of GM nameplates will be redesigned or all new over the course of 2012 and 2013, with the four-cylinder 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2013 Cadillac ATS reaching the market now.
The redesigned Malibu arriving in dealerships will replace depleted stocks of 2012 models. The compact Cadillac ATS sport sedan is the brand’s second all-new sedan this year and it will compete in the highest volume luxury segment in the United States.
2012 Highlights |
Aug. Total Sales |
Total Change vs. Aug. 2011 |
Aug. Retail Sales |
Retail Change vs. Aug. 2011 |
CYTD Sales |
CYTD Change vs. 2011 |
CYTD Retail Sales |
CYTD |
Chevrolet |
169,978 |
11.3% |
117,597 |
11.6% |
1,270,582 |
5.3% |
856,102 |
4.1% |
GMC |
37,838 |
3.7% |
33,450 |
12.4% |
273,366 |
4.4% |
227,781 |
3.1% |
Buick |
18,000 |
12.4% |
16,149 |
8.3% |
122,589 |
(3.1%) |
108,892 |
2.5% |
Cadillac |
14,704 |
11.3% |
13,726 |
12.0% |
90,933 |
(9.5%) |
85,803 |
(2.4%) |
Total GM |
240,520 |
10.1% |
180,922 |
11.4% |
1,757,470 |
3.7% |
1,278,578 |
3.3% |
Inventory |
Units @ |
Days Supply (selling day adjusted) |
Units @ |
Days Supply |
Year-end Inventory Target |
Year-end Days Supply Target (selling day adjusted) |
All Vehicles |
687,354 |
77 |
663,439 |
79 |
650,000 units (range) |
65 – 70 |
Full-size Pickups |
249,411 |
122 |
238,165 |
136 |
200,000 – 220,000 units |
80 – 85 |
Chevrolet Nameplate |
New Sales Record |
Old Sales Record |
Old Sales Record Month |
Spark |
2,630 |
1,460 |
July 2012 |
Sonic |
8,703 |
8,251 |
March 2012 |
Cruze |
25,975 |
25,160 |
April 2011 |
Volt |
2,831 |
2,289 |
March 2012 |
Industry Sales |
Aug. SAAR (est.) |
CYTD SAAR (est.) |
Full Year 2012 (est.) |
Light Vehicles |
14.6 million |
14.3 million |
14.0 million – 14.5 million |