Latest Car News From DIGIADS

Latest Car News

New Car Review Areas

General Car Topics

GM Reports September Sales Down 24 Percent Year-to-Year


October 2005
 Filed under: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Car News | GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines

All-New Impala, HHR and Cobalt Lead Into Chevy's Next Wave of Product Introductions; Pontiac G6 Records Best Sales Month Since Launch

Buick LaCrosse Retail Sales Outpace Year-Ago Century/Regal Retail Deliveries for 9th Month; H3 Continues to Drive Record HUMMER Sales

DETROIT - General Motors dealers in the United States sold 349,202 new cars and trucks in September, down 24 percent from the same month a year ago. Car sales declined 14.5 percent and truck sales were off 29.5 percent. GM's September sales results were down following a strong performance in June and July, paced by the GM Employee Discount for Everyone program. September results also were impacted by comparison to very strong year-ago sales, when GM ran its "72-Hour Sale," which offered 0 percent financing for 72 months, resulting in a number of industry sales records.
"We knew going into September that it would be challenging given continued inventory constraints and compared to exceptionally strong year-ago results," said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "The four-month period of the GM Employee Discount for Everyone drove a 6 percent increase in sales and pushed inventory levels to record lows. We're particularly pleased that we continue to experience strong sales of our launch vehicles, led by the HUMMER H3, Pontiac G6, Cadillac DTS and Chevrolet Impala and HHR, which our dealers tell us are moving off their lots as quickly as they arrive from the plant."

As Chevrolet begins its second wave of product introductions with an additional 10 new vehicles by the end of 2006, the new Impala, HHR and Cobalt continue to build sales momentum. Impala deliveries have been very strong as production continues to ramp up, achieving turn rates over 43 percent. September sales of the 2006 Impala totaled 18,603 units. HHR sales in September were 55 percent greater than August and also are spending little time in dealers' inventories, with a turn rate over 40 percent. Cobalt sales continue at a brisk pace despite very low inventories, and it is drawing new owners into the GM family with more than 40 percent of its sales for the calendar year-to-date coming from non-GM owners.

Other GM launch vehicles also continue to build momentum in the market. H3 is driving record HUMMER sales performance and appealing to new GM customers. About 70 percent of H3 buyers previously were not GM owners. HUMMER's September deliveries were up 128 percent compared to last year, and H2 sales hit a milestone in September with delivery of the 100,000th vehicle.

Retail sales of the Buick LaCrosse for the ninth consecutive month surpassed year-ago combined retail sales for Century and Regal.

Pontiac G6 recorded its best sales since launch, with 13,422 deliveries, bolstered by the arrival of the G6 coupe.

Saturn's September sales were up 8 percent, spurred by an 18 percent increase in sales of the new Vue, which also is experiencing high turn rates and low inventory.

GM continues to rebuild its inventories, which at the end of September were approximately 818,000 units.

Certified Used Vehicles

September sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, were 41,532 units, down 5 percent from last September. Total year-to-date certified GM sales are 402,469 units, up nearly 3 percent from the same period last year.

GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used brand, posted sales of 35,416 units, down 4 percent from the previous September. Year-to-date sales for GM Certified Used Vehicles are 341,769 units, up 4 percent.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted September sales of 2,924 units, down 11 percent from last September. Cadillac Certified year-to-date sales are up 10 percent over the same period in 2004. Used Cars from Saturn sold 2,336 units, down 17 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 856 units, up nearly 12 percent.

"September completes an outstanding third quarter for GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling certified brand, which established a new all-time quarterly sales record for the category with 122,039 units sold," LaNeve said. "Looking ahead, we're confident that GM Certified will continue to set the pace for the certified segment in the coming quarter."

GM North America Reports September and 2005 Third-Quarter Production, 2005 Fourth-Quarter Production Forecast Remains Unchanged

GM North America in September produced 454,000 vehicles (165,000 cars and 289,000 trucks), compared to 470,000 vehicles (184,000 cars and 286,000 trucks) produced in September 2004. Production totals include joint venture production of 26,000 vehicles in September 2005 and 21,000 vehicles in September 2004.

In the third quarter of 2005, the region produced 1.144 million vehicles (423,000 cars and 721,000 trucks). In the third quarter of 2004, the region produced 1.209 million vehicles (463,000 cars and 746,000 trucks). The region's 2005 fourth-quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 1.3 million vehicles (473,000 cars and 827,000 trucks). In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region produced 1.277 million vehicles (466,000 cars and 811,000 trucks).

GM also announced 2005 revised third-quarter and fourth-quarter production forecasts for its international regions:

GM Europe - GM Europe's 2005 third-quarter production forecast remains at 412,000 vehicles. In the third quarter of 2004, GM Europe built 411,000 vehicles. The region's revised 2005 fourth-quarter production forecast is 458,000 vehicles, down 13,000 units from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2004, GM Europe built 442,000 vehicles.

GM Asia Pacific - GM Asia Pacific's revised 2005 third-quarter production estimate is 409,000 vehicles, down 10,000 units from last month's guidance. In the third quarter of 2004, GM Asia Pacific built 314,000 vehicles. The region's 2005 fourth quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 447,000 vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region built 386,000 vehicles.

GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - The region's revised 2005 third-quarter production estimate is 207,000 vehicles, down 2,000 units from last month's guidance. In the third quarter of 2004, the region built 185,000 vehicles. The region's revised 2005 fourth-quarter production estimate is 192,000 vehicles, down 5,000 units from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region built 200,000 vehicles.

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. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Note: GM sales and production results are available on GM Media OnLine at http://media.gm.com by clicking on News, then Sales/Production. In this press release and related comments by General Motors management, our use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "objective," "plan," "goal" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward looking statements. While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold, and we believe these judgments are reasonable, actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors that are described in GM's most recent report on SEC Form 10-K (at page II-20) which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Such factors include, among others, the following: changes in economic conditions, currency exchange rates or political stability; shortages of fuel, labor strikes or work stoppages; market acceptance of the corporation's new products; significant changes in the competitive environment; changes in laws, regulations and tax rates; and, the ability of the corporation to achieve reductions in cost and employment levels to realize production efficiencies and implement capital expenditures at levels and times planned by management.

Latest GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines

Latest Car News

All images courtesy of and copyright their respective manufacturers, unless otherwise indicated. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any way without the express written permission of their respective owners. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Model news and specifications are presented as provided by manufacturer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DIGIADS. No warranty is made by DIGIADS with respect to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.
Copyright © 2000-2025 DIGIADS Australia All Rights Reserved. Contact Us
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the DIGIADS Privacy Policy and User Agreement. 		Loading...