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Cadillac, Chevrolet, HUMMER and Saab Brands Continue Global Growth


October 2005
 Filed under: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Car News | GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines
2005-10-25 -- DETROIT. General Motors reported calendar year-to-date sales (January - September) of 7,066,774 vehicles around the world – a 3.7 percent increase over 2004, led by significant gains in sales for its three luxury and premium brands Cadillac (up 9.6 percent), HUMMER (up 84.1 percent) and Saab (up 1.4 percent), as well as its foundation brand, Chevrolet (up 7.3 percent).
Integrating GM’s product development and marketing operations on a global scale is helping to further strengthen its brands. These efforts complement the global manufacturing of vehicles in the Chevrolet, Cadillac, HUMMER and Saab product portfolios, positioning each of these brands for continued growth.

“With Chevrolet and Cadillac we have two of the strongest vehicle brands in the industry, and we intend to leverage and grow them internationally with our global marketing, manufacturing and vehicle development strategies,” said John Middlebrook, vice president of global sales, service and marketing. “The sales increases we’re seeing with Cadillac, Chevrolet and most recently HUMMER and Saab demonstrate that we have a winning portfolio of new vehicles.”

Global Chevrolet sales are up more than 228,000 units over 2004. The sales increase boosted Chevrolet’s global market share from 6.6 to 6.8, strengthening its position as the third best selling brand in the world. Chevrolet sales in Europe increased 27 percent year-to-date. In Asia-Pacific, which is a strong and rapidly growing market for GM, Chevrolet sales improved 143 percent, while year-over-year Chevrolet sales in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region jumped 17.8 percent.

GM’s Cadillac luxury brand experienced a significant sales boost in the Asia-Pacific markets (up 160 percent). The mid-size Cadillac CTS sedan led the pack with significant sales gains in this region. “The Chinese market could eventually represent up to 20 percent of Cadillac’s global volume and become the Cadillac brand’s second-largest after the U.S.,” said Middlebrook.

Cadillac’s presence in Europe is expected to grow with sales of the new Cadillac BLS starting next spring. The BLS, a four-door luxury midsize sedan, will be available with an optional direct-injected turbo diesel engine and right-hand drive.

HUMMER, the brand known for its iconic design and unparalleled off-road capabilities, is expanding globally as well. GM launched the all-new 2006 H3 to European audiences at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year and is investing $100 million to upgrade an assembly plant in South Africa to produce H3s for global markets. When fully operational, this facility will assemble both left and right-hand drive versions of the H3 for markets outside of North America. The H3 is expected to be HUMMER’s biggest seller, with the strongest demand in the United States, Middle East and Europe. The larger HUMMER H2s are already sold in more than 30 countries around the world.

Global sales of Saab are up 1.4 percent this year, led by a 10.4 percent increase in GM’s North America region. In September Saab reported its fourth consecutive month of year-over-year sales, as well as its highest ever monthly market share performance in GM’s Europe region. Much of the brand’s growth is attributed to the most aggressive product development program in Saab’s 58-year history. New products introduced this year include the 9-7X premium midsize SUV; the 9-3 SportCombi 5-door wagon, which complements the 9-3 sport sedan and convertible; and a mid-cycle enhancement to the 9-5.

Three of GM’s four regions achieved year-over-year sales increases over the first nine months of 2005. The largest percentage increase occurred in GM’s Latin America, Africa and Middle East region, which boosted sales by 21.6 percent, followed by its Asia-Pacific region with a sales increase of 17.4 percent. GM’s Europe region reported year-to-date sales increases of 1.7 percent built on strong sales from Chevrolet.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 317,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s history.

In Europe, GM sells its Opel, Vauxhall, Saab, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer ranges in over 30 markets. It operates 11 production and assembly facilities in eight countries and employs around 60,000 people.

Source: GM

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