December 2016: General Motors Co.

[William Maley]

Chevrolet and GM Lead U.S. Retail Sales and Share Gains in 2016

• U.S. industry sets new sales record
• 2016 GM U.S. retail market share grew 0.5 points
• 2016 GM U.S. retail sales up nearly 2 percent
• Chevrolet December U.S. retail sales up 8 percent
• December Commercial sales up to highest level since 2007

DETROIT — General Motors (NYSE: GM) sold 249,983 vehicles in December to individual or “retail” customers in the U.S., up more than 3 percent from last year. Based on initial estimates, GM was the fastest growing full-line automaker in December and in 2016, led by strong retail sales gains at Chevrolet. GM turned in its best U.S. December retail sales performance since 2007.

Chevrolet’s December retail sales jumped by 8 percent, keeping Chevrolet the industry’s fastest-growing brand. Chevrolet posted its best December retail sales performance since 2005 and its best calendar year retail performance since 2006. 

Based on initial estimates, GM’s December U.S. retail market share rose 0.3 points to 17.6 percent. GM has gained retail market share in 18 of the past 21 months. For the year, GM gained 0.5 points of retail market share, pushing retail market share to 16.8 percent. For 2016, GM was the U.S. retail industry’s fastest-growing manufacturer.

Chevrolet gained an estimated 0.7 points of U.S. retail market share in December to 11.5 percent.

GM’s total U.S. sales in December were 319,108, up 10 percent from last year. In December, GM’s total U.S. market share was up 1.5 points to 18.8 percent. GM’s December U.S. Commercial sales were up more than 1 percent to the highest levels since 2007, reflecting a growing U.S. economy.

“We finished 2016 with a strong December, reflecting the continued strength of GM’s U.S. retail and commercial businesses,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s vice president of U.S. Sales Operations. “We begin 2017 well positioned to continue growing our U.S. retail business, driven by all-new products like the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse being launched into key, growing U.S. market segments.” 

For 2016, GM’s U.S. retail sales were up nearly 2 percent, compared to last year. GM gained 0.5 points of U.S. retail market share, the largest retail share gain of any automaker. For the year, Chevrolet U.S. retail sales were up more than 3 percent and the brand’s retail share has grown 0.5 points to 11.2 percent. Chevrolet continues to be the U.S. automotive industry’s fastest-growing brand, gaining nearly 1 point of retail market share in the past two years.

Buick’s U.S. retail sales grew by nearly 5 percent in 2016, led by the brand’s crossovers, the Encore and Envision. In 2016, Buick gained 0.1 points of U.S. retail share.

GM continues to benefit from the ongoing strength of the U.S. economy and growing U.S. retail demand for its products.

“Key economic indicators, especially consumer confidence, continue to reflect optimism about the U.S. economy and strong customer demand continues to drive a very healthy U.S. auto industry,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “We believe the U.S. auto industry remains well-positioned for sales to continue at or near record levels in 2017.”

December 2016 Retail Sales and Business Highlights vs. December 2015 (except as noted)

Chevrolet

• Colorado was up 20 percent.
• Trax, Equinox and Traverse were up 43 percent, 38 percent and 22 percent, respectively.
• Spark, Impala, Volt, Sonic, Corvette and Malibu were up 210 percent, 95 percent, 76 percent, 50 percent, 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
• Volt had its best month and year ever.
• Malibu had its best calendar year sales since 1980.
• Impala had its best December since 2008
• Equinox had its best month ever.
• Traverse had its best December and year ever.
• Colorado had it best December since 2004.

GMC

• GMC’s December ATPs reached a December record of $45,209 and a calendar year record of $43,088.
• Acadia, Yukon and Yukon XL were up 31 percent, 2 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
• Canyon was up 25 percent and had its best December and year ever.
• Denali penetration in December was nearly 30 percent, led by Yukon and Yukon XL at 61 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

Buick

• Buick had its best year since 2005.
• Encore was up 16 percent.
• Buick dealers sold 3,074 Envisions.

Cadillac

• Escalade was up 8 percent.
• Escalade had its best month since December 2007.
• XT5 had its best month since launch with significantly higher ATPs than its predecessor.
• December ATPs were $56,949, the highest monthly ATP ever.

Average Transaction Prices (ATP)/Incentives (based on JD Power PIN estimates through 12/25/16)

• GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $36,386 in December, more than $4,000 above the industry average and up $740 from last month. 
• For the year, GM ATPs were $35,371, more than $4,260 above the industry average and up $720 over the 2015 average.
• In December, GM’s incentive spending as a percent of ATP was 13.0 percent, down compared to last month.
• For the year, GM’s incentive spending as a percent of ATP was 11.9 percent, well below the incentive spending of its domestic competitors and many of its global competitors.

Fleet and Commercial

• December daily rental sales were up, but finished 2016 down nearly 74,000 vehicles or 18 percent compared to 2015.
• GM’s daily rental sales in 2016 were 10.7 percent of total GM sales.
• Malibu Commercial deliveries were up 35 percent for the month, large van Commercial deliveries were up 7 percent and large pick-up Commercial deliveries were up 4 percent.
• Federal government sales were up 3 percent for the calendar year.

Industry Sales

• GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in December was approximately 18.2 million units. On a calendar year-to-date basis, GM estimates the light-vehicle industry was 17.5 million units, a new U.S. calendar year record.

[Cmicasa the Great]

The slightly higher priced, similarly equipped, same configuration but better looking XTS continues to take it to the Continental, despite being 5 years old. Again.. with December ATPs at $57,000 the CT6 is certainly doing its job. Gotta wonder what Cadillac would be posting if it had larger vehicles in the same categories as Benz.

Anyone else catch the fact that Cadillac's lone XT5 outsold the MKX, MKT, and MKC combined. Cadillac's YOY sales drop is completely to due with the CTS and ATS losing ground due to the demand up on the CUV segment. GM really is stupid for not having or rebadging something for the time being. I still say that the SRX.. restyled and updated smaller would have been an easy hold-over.

 

Camaro obviously lost the yearly sales run, but came within 64 units of the Mustang in Dec., with the Vette getting a nice bump probably from the GS being on the lots. GM moved 942K Pick-Ups. WOW. And again... I will continue to point out that the GM strategy of Malibu-Impala vs Fusion-Taurus is a win for GM

 

[ccap41]

XTS is the only thing in the Cadillac house that looks like doggy doo doo. Everything else looks great.

Taurus also b-lows. It's gotta be worst in class in every category..

Edited January 4, 2017 by ccap41

[cp-the-nerd]

Impressive finish for the year, great showing for Chevy's sedans. Now I just want to see them get inventory under control over the next couple months.

[Stew]

I kinda like the XTS V-Sport hehe.  Of course I would MUCH rather be able to et the turbo 3.6/AWD  in the IMHO much better looking 14+ Impala or 17 Lacrosse. 

[Cmicasa the Great]

14 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

XTS is the only thing in the Cadillac house that looks like doggy doo doo. Everything else looks great.

Taurus also b-lows. It's gotta be worst in class in every category..

Then Doggy Doo Doo must look pretty damn great cause this SOB is damn nice looking.. especially when compared to the Continental. Again.. not opinion.. just fact

 

 

 

 

[Cmicasa the Great]

Here is a legit question... if Acura sold 276 NSXs.. why wouldn't Cadillac be able to sell 500 rebodied Z06s?

[ccap41]

38 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Then Doggy Doo Doo must look pretty damn great cause this SOB is damn nice looking.. especially when compared to the Continental. Again.. not opinion.. just fact

Quoting like this so I don't have to look at it again.. lol

Oh looks are absolutely opinion-based!

I easily think Cadillac could rebadge the Vette and easily sell 1000 in a year still. As long as they rebadge it in a clean and well executed manner, no probby at all.

38 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Then Doggy Doo Doo must look pretty damn great cause this SOB is damn nice looking.. especially when compared to the Continental. Again.. not opinion.. just fact

Quoting like this so I don't have to look at it again.. lol

Oh looks are absolutely opinion-based!

I easily think Cadillac could rebadge the Vette and easily sell 1000 in a year still. As long as they rebadge it in a clean and well executed manner, no probby at all.

[cp-the-nerd]

You sound like you're making a case for Cadillac badge jobs, and it's just not good for the brand. Besides, the Corvette's current platform isn't Cadillac worthy. It's an engineering compromise because they didn't have money for an all new chassis during C7 R&D.

A Cadillac version would weigh as much as the ATS-V coupe and be riding on leaf springs for Christ's sake.

[ccap41]

Oh I do not think it is a good idea but I think they could still sell less than 100 a month across the US.

[Cmicasa the Great]

24 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

You sound like you're making a case for Cadillac badge jobs, and it's just not good for the brand. Besides, the Corvette's current platform isn't Cadillac worthy. It's an engineering compromise because they didn't have money for an all new chassis during C7 R&D.

A Cadillac version would weigh as much as the ATS-V coupe and be riding on leaf springs for Christ's sake.

For a first generation it wouldn't matter one bit. The Cadillac "Z06" would still be a performance winner in C7 form. The C7 is as advanced as almost anything going. Your statement makes even less sense considering I was talking about the C8. Regardless.. I will now defend the C7.. and say that even if they went to the C7 as a basis.... they would have no issue at all maintaining a great deal of the performance of the donor even after adding luxurious items. Even with a few ticks less in times.. it would still be a car that would run easily with current Benz Sports Verts not to mention the FType from Jag and upcoming Lexus SC. That's their market. The Corvette is the brawler with a  bunch of  finesse.. the Caddy would be the Finesse with a bunch of brawl

 

Also.. the C7 chassis is much more advanced than the C6s.. different in a great many ways. There was no compromise

[hyperv6]

1 hour ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Here is a legit question... if Acura sold 276 NSXs.. why wouldn't Cadillac be able to sell 500 rebodied Z06s?

For the same reason you can not sell a Cavalier rebadged as a Cadillac.

We tried that before and the results were only good on the resale market where my buddy got a $100K low mile XLRV for just over $30K.

The time money and man power would be better suited to getting the sedans where they need to be and the Cross Overs out they have planned.

Cadillac needs to address their core products before they worry about a lost leader for the third time.

 

Let them get their house in order and then look to the C8 not just rebodied but rebooted to a Cadillac in the same vein as Lambo is changed to an Audi.

Revisit this in 2025.

 

Edited January 4, 2017 by hyperv6

[Stew]

1.  I think the Continental is a MUCH better looking car than the XTS (bathroom fixture door handles not withstanding).  but i don't think the XTS is really ugly as much as awkward and I wouldn't kick out a V-Sport. 

 

2.  MAYBE the new mid-engine design would make a sweet Hybrid AWD mid-engine rocketship Cadillac Supercar, but I don't think using the Current f/r  C7 would work all that well. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Stew

[smk4565]

Continental looks like a mid-size Kia.  It is bland and forgettable.

Buick and Cadillac are becoming SUV brands, but Cadillac doesn't have enough crossovers.  The sedans at both brands are in the tank, I don't think Buick will ever get sedan sales back, LaCrosse is the only car they need for the "traditional" Buick buyer.  The crossovers across the board are going gang busters, I feel like the government could put a 20% sales tax on all crossovers and sales wouldn't drop one bit.

[ehaase]

I saw a Continental last week at the Ford dealer.  It had no more presence than a Camry. It isn't wide enough.  I am sure it is much more pleasant to drive with the Ecoboost V6's. 

I don't understand why Buick will sell the Insignia here again as a Regal. 

If it were up to me, Cadillac would drop the ATS and CTS, redesign the XTS, and have the CT6 and XTS replacement as its sedans, with 3 crossovers and the Escalade. 

 

 

[ccap41]

24 minutes ago, ehaase said:

I saw a Continental last week at the Ford dealer.  It had no more presence than a Camry. It isn't wide enough.  I am sure it is much more pleasant to drive with the Ecoboost V6's. 

I don't understand why Buick will sell the Insignia here again as a Regal. 

If it were up to me, Cadillac would drop the ATS and CTS, redesign the XTS, and have the CT6 and XTS replacement as its sedans, with 3 crossovers and the Escalade. 

 

 

I hate everything about what you just said.

Drop the ATS and CTS?!?! Keep the XTS(nothing actually wrong with it, I just don't think it fits where Cadillac is going). Continental has the same presence as a Camry?!?!? You're Drunk.

 

[Drew Dowdell]

Cadillac needs the ATS, but it needs a major refresh

[Cmicasa the Great]

23 hours ago, hyperv6 said:

For the same reason you can not sell a Cavalier rebadged as a Cadillac.

We tried that before and the results were only good on the resale market where my buddy got a $100K low mile XLRV for just over $30K.

The time money and man power would be better suited to getting the sedans where they need to be and the Cross Overs out they have planned.

Cadillac needs to address their core products before they worry about a lost leader for the third time.

 

Let them get their house in order and then look to the C8 not just rebodied but rebooted to a Cadillac in the same vein as Lambo is changed to an Audi.

Revisit this in 2025.

 

Come on Dude..   The Cavalier reference is not only old,  but ridiculous.  The Corvette is in no way a car that is beneath Cadillac.. outside of the dealerships that it's sold out of daily.  Hell..  at this point same argument could be made for the Camaro..  Properly executed a new XLR using C7 bones let alone C8 would be perfect as well as necessary.  Cadillac literally has just two less Cuvs than Lexus.  Easily remedied.  

[Drew Dowdell]

What the heck is wrong with the Corvette platform? It's the king of the game for the price and a great baseline to start a Cadillac from. 

[TaurusSHO]

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

I hate everything about what you just said.

Drop the ATS and CTS?!?! Keep the XTS(nothing actually wrong with it, I just don't think it fits where Cadillac is going). Continental has the same presence as a Camry?!?!? You're Drunk.

 

And as far as not being wide enough, it's four inches wider than the CT6 and 5 inches wider than the XTS.

[ccap41]

25 minutes ago, TaurusSHO said:

And as far as not being wide enough, it's four inches wider than the CT6 and 5 inches wider than the XTS.

Definitely!

And the Continental is 11 inches longer with an 8.6 inch longer wheelbase along with being about 4 inches wider as well..than a Camry..

[Cmicasa the Great]

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

What the heck is wrong with the Corvette platform? It's the king of the game for the price and a great baseline to start a Cadillac from. 

My point. They act like the Corvette is sitting on top of BK platform from Hyundai's Genesis Coupe. We are talking about a car that on the low end still sells for $55K and already reaches to $100K.. when the ZR1 hits I would think up to $135K. Not only that the chassis is as advanced as anything costing $300K. What bewilders me is that after the C7.. hell C6.. people still ALLOW themselves to believe that buying a Ferrari/Lambo etc is a step up in performance outside of the occasional model with higher HP and AWD

19 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Continental looks like a mid-size Kia.  It is bland and forgettable.

 

Never would I have thought of doing it.. but I agree with this statement

[Cmicasa the Great]

5 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I hate everything about what you just said.

Drop the ATS and CTS?!?! Keep the XTS(nothing actually wrong with it, I just don't think it fits where Cadillac is going). Continental has the same presence as a Camry?!?!? You're Drunk.

 

Then he's drunk off water.. because the other day a Continental only got my attention only after an Accord that was in front of it rolled by.. and even then I found myself thinking " wow... as much as I hate Japanese products... that Honda looks more upscale than the new Lincoln." 

No way I would have said that about either of these two

 

[Drew Dowdell]

I guess I'm the only one who likes the Continental, XTS, and CT6 in no particular order.

[hyperv6]

4 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

What the heck is wrong with the Corvette platform? It's the king of the game for the price and a great baseline to start a Cadillac from. 

Is this a quote from when they started the XLR?