[Flybrian]

October 2007 Sales: General Motors
GM Reports 310,008 October Deliveries, Posting Third Consecutive Year-Over-Year Monthly Increase

(Monthly comparison percentages are adjusted for sales days unless noted.
Annual and calendar year-to-date comparisons are unadjusted.)

• Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac Increased Sales Year-Over-Year
• Full-Size Utilities and All-New Crossovers Post Significant Gains
• 2008 Malibu Orders Outpace Available Supply
• All-New CTS Drives 20 Percent Cadillac Sales Increase

DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 310,008 vehicles in October, 8,700 more vehicles when compared with year-ago performance, outpacing an industry expected to show a volume decline of about 4 percent.

For the third consecutive month, on an unadjusted basis, total sales increased, with October up 3 percent. When adjusted for selling days, sales declined 1 percent. It is anticipated that GM will see its fourth consecutive month with market share above 24 percent. Since August, market share is up more than 1 point, to 25.1 percent, compared with the same three month period last year.

The month's 229,294 retail deliveries demonstrated solid performance despite continuing industry softness. GM retail sales were led by brisk retail sales of full-size utilities, mid-utility crossovers, the Cadillac CTS, and the Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt and HHR. The Saturn division showed yet another retail sales increase, up 7 percent.

"Our strong market share performance and our ability to outpace industry trends on volume demonstrates the consumer acceptance of our new products," said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Over the past two years, our new products including the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Cadillac CTS, full-size utilities, and mid-crossovers have all gained retail share following launch. Our committed dealer team has really stepped up to the plate, pushing all of GM's brands above the industry average in the recently released J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index."

Cadillac CTS total sales surged 75 percent, compared with year-ago performance, due to the strength of the all-new CTS, now in showrooms. GMC Acadia, Saturn OUTLOOK and Buick Enclave together had total sales of more than 12,800 vehicles, pushing a more than 320-percent increase in GM's mid-crossover segment. Additionally, Cadillac's SRX luxury crossover saw a total sales increase of 37 percent. Total sales of the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 were up 81 percent, Chevrolet Aveo was up 58 percent and HHR was up 70 percent compared with last October.

Vehicles with retail sales increases, compared with year-ago levels, include: Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt, Tahoe, Suburban, and HHR; Saturn ION; GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac CTS and SRX; Pontiac G5, Grand Prix and Vibe.

"Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave have two of the fastest turn rates in the industry," LaNeve added. "And while it is still very early, Malibu demand and customer feedback has been sensational. It's products like these that have enabled us to buck recent industry trends."

Quality, reliability and durability (QRD) remain key factors when purchasing a new vehicle. An increasing number of consumers cite GM's willingness to stand behind its quality as a reason to buy a new GM vehicle. GM's 5 Year/100,000 Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty continues to be a better choice for customers.

GM's coverage focuses on the complete ownership experience and includes other provisions that competitors do not offer, including transferability to the next owner, more complete coverage of parts, and coverage for new and certified used vehicles. In addition, GM offers superior complementary programs, such as courtesy transportation and roadside assistance. "GM provides the best coverage in the industry. We take care of the vehicle and the owner like no other manufacturer," LaNeve added.

Certified Used Vehicles Sales

October 2007 sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, were 39,919 vehicles, down nearly 7 percent from last October. Total year-to-date certified GM sales are 442,110 vehicles, up 1 percent from the same period last year.

GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used brand, posted 34,843 sales, down 6 percent from last October. Year-to-date sales for GM Certified Used Vehicles are 388,442 vehicles, up 3 percent from the same period in 2006.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted October sales of 3,255 vehicles, down 11 percent from last October. Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 1,173 vehicles in October, down 9 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 518 vehicles, down 13 percent, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 130 vehicles, up 59 percent.

"While sales of GM Certified Used Vehicles were lower this October, year-to-date sales are up 3 percent and we expect to continue to surpass last year's category-leading annual sales," said LaNeve.

"Our customers enjoy a broad selection of fully inspected and reconditioned late-model used vehicles with the peace-of-mind assurances of one of the industry's best warranty programs," LaNeve added.

Click HERE to see October's complete sales breakdown

Big Winners

Cadillac CTS: +74.5% (6586|3629)
Chevy Aveo: +57.8% (6373|3883)
Chevy Cobalt: +80.9% (16505|8772)

[the_yellow_dart]

retail sales increases ... Saturn ION

[thedriver]

I'm not surprised that Ion sales are up, they are practically giving them away.

A friend of mine just bought a 2007 Ion 2 with 0 % financing and a bunch of other incentives. I talked him into a new car (especially since his last one was a Saturn) because of year end and model end deals. Otherwise he was looking at a KIA!!

I told him he might as well just have me punch him in the face, he would feel better about it later. . .

This post has been edited by thedriver: 01 November 2007 - 02:40 PM

[Oldsmoboi]

SRX up 37 percent and they're still not going to have a next gen? It's obvious the MCE really helped.

[enzl]

Can you say 'Fleet'?

Again, for the 2nd of 3 months of 'up' sales, we see no mention of a reduction in fleeting...

According to my calculations, more than 1 of 4 october sales were to fleet customers...

[Z-06]

Looks like Outlook is going to languish last

Acadia ~6,000
Enclave ~4,800
Outlook ~2,400

So much for Saturn having a big SUV.

[ZL-1]

[GXT]

According to my calculations, more than 1 of 4 october sales were to fleet customers...

25% fleet is an improvement for GM, isn't it? They used to be much higher (1 in 3 or more). How are you calculating?
Edit: I see the PR had the retail sales count of 229,294. That means 80,714 or 26% went to fleet.

As no one has mentioned it, I will. GM's October sales were actually down 1.1% by the standard means of measuring such things (DSR). I'm not commenting on whether it is good or bad, I'd just hate to see someone show up and accuse someone of playing games with numbers.

This post has been edited by GXT: 01 November 2007 - 04:19 PM

[dford]

Can I be the 1st to call BS on the General. Look at the model by model breakdown, and notice the 80% increase in Cobalt sales nicely corresponds with the unit sales increase for the entire company......

Sales suck, dump'em into the fleets.

[enzl]

25% fleet is an improvement for GM, isn't it? They used to be much higher (1 in 3 or more). How are you calculating?
Edit: I see the PR had the retail sales count of 229,294. That means 80,714 or 26% went to fleet.

As no one has mentioned it, I will. GM's October sales were actually down 1.1% by the standard means of measuring such things (DSR). I'm not commenting on whether it is good or bad, I'd just hate to see someone show up and accuse someone of playing games with numbers.

You're right, I believe the highest months were close to a third, so, technically, it is an improvement. My issue is with the semantics that go into GM's claims, as they have again violated their own promise to reduce fleeting, another example of managerial amnesia over at the Tubes.

I believe the fairest way to measure performance is against the rest of the marketplace, so if GM's numbers were down less than the market as a whole, that is progress--it also means marketshare increase.

I just don't see where a steady increase will come from---the Malibu will steal sales from the Impala and noone is foreseeing an improvement in the housing market, so GMT900's will probably not see much volume increases. The CTS will sell (partially at the expense of the STS), the G8 is small volume, the Astra will not equal Ion sales, and any other increases will be wiped out by aging Buick cars, Pontiac's continued death spiral and the continued mediocrity of small Chevy's...if anyone sees a realistic opportunity for growth, I'm all ears.

[regfootball]

glass half empty today?

saturn's strategy is to no longer sell big volume models. Aura at 60k might be biggest. Outlook at 30k is a contributor. Astra was to be what, 50k? ok, Vue biggest, 80-100k? It all adds up.

Saturn is more successful with 6-8 products of differing price ranges instead of trying to push 2 or 3 cheaper models in volume.

enzl is gloom and doom but consider how each new GM model is desirable and has a good buzz. GM is quietly putting out one or two new excellent products per division per year now, and over time that should stabilize sales and profits. Nearly all of GM's new products this year come in with high desirability (even if CR trashed the new Vue this month). Vue, G8, CTS, yukon/tahoe hybrid, malibu, lambdas, astra, aura......all positive.

the malibu may cannibalize the impala some in the showroom, but not as much as you think. impala will get fleeted more, and malibu will pick up the slack in the showroom. Overall, the combo of those 2 should post a net gain in both volume and profits and set the stage for big gains when the zeta impala hits.

[enzl]

glass half empty today?

saturn's strategy is to no longer sell big volume models. Aura at 60k might be biggest. Outlook at 30k is a contributor. Astra was to be what, 50k? ok, Vue biggest, 80-100k? It all adds up.

Saturn is more successful with 6-8 products of differing price ranges instead of trying to push 2 or 3 cheaper models in volume.

enzl is gloom and doom but consider how each new GM model is desirable and has a good buzz. GM is quietly putting out one or two new excellent products per division per year now, and over time that should stabilize sales and profits. Nearly all of GM's new products this year come in with high desirability (even if CR trashed the new Vue this month). Vue, G8, CTS, yukon/tahoe hybrid, malibu, lambdas, astra, aura......all positive.

the malibu may cannibalize the impala some in the showroom, but not as much as you think. impala will get fleeted more, and malibu will pick up the slack in the showroom. Overall, the combo of those 2 should post a net gain in both volume and profits and set the stage for big gains when the zeta impala hits.

Desireable is good. GM surviving is better.

You've completely made my point for me. There is nothing to dissuade me from thinking that GM is shooting for an 18-20% share of the US market---our buddy Mr. Lutz all but confirmed it with his recent remarks---that leaves alot of dealers, factory workers and suppliers in a serious sh!thole.

Pessimistic, maybe. But this is not what management has been promising over the last few years...and keep in mind, GM has made enormous commitments to keeping lots of capacity here in the US--kicking the can down the road is what got GM to its knees in the first place!

[Z-06]

25% fleet is an improvement for GM, isn't it? They used to be much higher (1 in 3 or more). How are you calculating?
Edit: I see the PR had the retail sales count of 229,294. That means 80,714 or 26% went to fleet.

As no one has mentioned it, I will. GM's October sales were actually down 1.1% by the standard means of measuring such things (DSR). I'm not commenting on whether it is good or bad, I'd just hate to see someone show up and accuse someone of playing games with numbers.

No PR games, straight in their news on GM Media is the number mentioned by GM itself.

When adjusted for selling days, sales declined 1 percent..

I guess some people do not read everything carefully.

[gm4life]

Great news. How'd Toyota do?

[VenSeattle]

Exactly smallchevy...

At least GM stated both sets of numbers (before adjusted selling days and after.) Did Toyota? No.

[gmcbob]

I don't know guys - even if GM is selling 25% to fleets, it's still selling quite a few cars to regular retail customers, with some good gains in key areas. And even if the company is still selling a lot of cars and trucks to fleets, it gets the cars out on the streets, and gets the nameplates out in front of potential customers. Don't fret guys (and girls) - GM will be just fine.

[vrazzhledazzle]

Um...Saturn is down

[Oldsmoboi]

Desireable is good. GM surviving is better.

You've completely made my point for me. There is nothing to dissuade me from thinking that GM is shooting for an 18-20% share of the US market---our buddy Mr. Lutz all but confirmed it with his recent remarks---that leaves alot of dealers, factory workers and suppliers in a serious sh!thole.

Pessimistic, maybe. But this is not what management has been promising over the last few years...and keep in mind, GM has made enormous commitments to keeping lots of capacity here in the US--kicking the can down the road is what got GM to its knees in the first place!

you misinterpreted Lutz's remarks

[CaddyXLR-V]

Desireable is good. GM surviving is better.

You've completely made my point for me. There is nothing to dissuade me from thinking that GM is shooting for an 18-20% share of the US market---our buddy Mr. Lutz all but confirmed it with his recent remarks---that leaves alot of dealers, factory workers and suppliers in a serious sh!thole.

Pessimistic, maybe. But this is not what management has been promising over the last few years...and keep in mind, GM has made enormous commitments to keeping lots of capacity here in the US--kicking the can down the road is what got GM to its knees in the first place!

I think Lutz was just predicting much more growth outside the US, not stating US sales would decline. At the rate of growth by both the market as a whole in China and India, and GM's growth within those markets, that statement doesn't appear to be too far off.

The only way for GM's US % of sales to not decrease when compared to GM's growth globally outside the US, would be for sales in the US to grow by more than 5% yearly. If GM sells 4 million vehicles in the US, with a 5% annual increase over 10 years, GM would need to increase sales by 2.5 million, which is highly unlikely for any automaker, including Toyota.

[Z-06]

I think Lutz was just predicting much more growth outside the US, not stating US sales would decline. At the rate of growth by both the market as a whole in China and India, and GM's growth within those markets, that statement doesn't appear to be too far off.

That is how I interpreted too.