"Sales for GM and the industry showed signs of life at the end of the month compared with January and February. In April, we're stepping up to the plate to get a rally under way with 'GM Total Confidence,' our unprecedented customer protection package," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "We are encouraged by actions taken by the Federal government to stabilize the industry and stimulate demand. As we continue the reinvention of General Motors, our brands are adding even more world-class, fuel-efficient cars and crossovers to their portfolios. We will also continue to add even more fuel economy technology to our trucks."
When compared with March a year ago, GM total car sales of 68,877 were off 41 percent and total truck sales (including crossovers) of 87,503 were down 47 percent.
Compared with February, total Chevrolet sales were up 25 percent. Specifically, cars were up 28 percent, trucks were up 25 percent and crossovers increased 19 percent. Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups gained strength in March, when compared with February, with retail sales up 17 and 27 percent, respectfully.
Chevrolet's crossover portfolio of HHR, Equinox and Traverse combined for 14,844 total sales in March, a 19 percent increase compared with February. In addition, Malibu has increased retail sales for the first three months this year, with sales up 7 percent compared with the same period a year ago.
"We had a strong close at the end of the month as customers responded to strong incentives, President Obama's positive statements about GM, and the government backing domestic warranties," LaNeve added. "Customers told us they wanted a manufacturer to look out for them, and that's exactly what the 'GM Total Confidence' program does."
A total of 1,612 GM hybrid vehicles were delivered in the month, illustrating the wide range of hybrid product offerings available. GM offers the Chevrolet Malibu, Tahoe and Silverado, GMC Yukon and Sierra, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Aura and Vue hybrids. So far, in 2009, GM has delivered 3,622 hybrid vehicles.
GM inventories dropped compared with a year ago. At the end of March, only about 765,000 vehicles were in stock, down about 108,000 vehicles (or 12 percent) compared with last year. There were about 332,000 cars and 433,000 trucks (including crossovers) in inventory at the end of March. Inventories were reduced about 15,000 vehicles compared with February.
GM North America reports March 2009 production
The region's 2009 first-quarter production was 372,000 vehicles (116,000 cars and 256,000 trucks), which is down about 58 percent compared with a year ago. GM North America built 885,000 vehicles (360,000 cars and 525,000 trucks) in the first-quarter of 2008.
The region's 2009 second-quarter production forecast remains at 550,000 vehicles (195,000 cars and 355,000 trucks), which is down about 34 percent compared with a year ago. GM North America built 834,000 vehicles (382,000 cars and 452,000 trucks) in the second-quarter of 2008.
|
*S/D Curr: 25 |
March |
(Calendar Year-to-Date) | |||||
|
2009 |
2008 |
% Chg Volume |
%Chg per S/D |
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume | |
|
Vehicle Total |
156,380 |
282,732 |
-44.7 |
-42.5 |
412,903 |
805,720 |
-48.8 |
|
Car Total |
68,877 |
117,378 |
-41.3 |
-39.0 |
166,633 |
329,344 |
-49.4 |
|
Light Truck Total |
86,457 |
163,335 |
-47.1 |
-45.0 |
243,069 |
471,032 |
-48.4 |
|
Light Vehicle Total |
155,334 |
280,713 |
-44.7 |
-42.5 |
409,702 |
800,376 |
-48.8 |
|
Truck Total |
87,503 |
165,354 |
-47.1 |
-45.0 |
246,270 |
476,376 |
-48.3 |
|
GM Vehicle Deliveries by Marketing Division | |||||||
|
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume |
%Chg per S/D |
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume | |
|
Buick Total |
7,369 |
12,317 |
-40.2 |
-37.8 |
20,534 |
37,834 |
-45.7 |
|
Cadillac Total |
8,209 |
17,453 |
-53.0 |
-51.1 |
23,746 |
46,665 |
-49.1 |
|
Chevrolet Total |
94,704 |
164,564 |
-42.5 |
-40.1 |
247,445 |
480,278 |
-48.5 |
|
GMC Total |
19,086 |
38,422 |
-50.3 |
-48.3 |
54,410 |
103,929 |
-47.6 |
|
HUMMER Total |
831 |
3,451 |
-75.9 |
-75.0 |
3,106 |
9,863 |
-68.5 |
|
Pontiac Total |
17,583 |
25,417 |
-30.8 |
-28.1 |
40,887 |
72,377 |
-43.5 |
|
Saab Total |
1,265 |
2,962 |
-57.3 |
-55.6 |
2,932 |
6,468 |
-54.7 |
|
Saturn Total |
7,333 |
18,146 |
-59.6 |
-58.0 |
19,843 |
48,306 |
-58.9 |
|
GM Vehicle Total |
156,380 |
282,732 |
-44.7 |
-42.5 |
412,903 |
805,720 |
-48.8 |
|
GM Car Deliveries by Marketing Division | |||||||
|
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume |
%Chg per S/D |
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume | |
|
Buick Total |
4,172 |
7,779 |
-46.4 |
-44.2 |
11,245 |
25,815 |
-56.4 |
|
Cadillac Total |
5,728 |
11,030 |
-48.1 |
-46.0 |
15,645 |
30,883 |
-49.3 |
|
Chevrolet Total |
38,818 |
64,334 |
-39.7 |
-37.2 |
93,052 |
181,441 |
-48.7 |
|
Pontiac Total |
16,450 |
23,616 |
-30.3 |
-27.6 |
37,127 |
65,845 |
-43.6 |
|
Saab Total |
852 |
2,449 |
-65.2 |
-63.8 |
1,958 |
5,110 |
-61.7 |
|
Saturn Total |
2,857 |
8,170 |
-65.0 |
-63.6 |
7,606 |
20,250 |
-62.4 |
|
GM Car Total |
68,877 |
117,378 |
-41.3 |
-39.0 |
166,633 |
329,344 |
-49.4 |
|
GM Light Truck Deliveries by Marketing Division | |||||||
|
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume |
%Chg per S/D |
2009 |
2008 |
%Chg Volume | |
|
Buick Total |
3,197 |
4,538 |
-29.6 |
-26.7 |
9,289 |
12,019 |
-22.7 |
|
Cadillac Total |
2,481 |
6,423 |
-61.4 |
-59.8 |
8,101 |
15,782 |
-48.7 |
|
Chevrolet Total |
55,363 |
99,157 |
-44.2 |
-41.9 |
152,798 |
296,020 |
-48.4 |
|
GMC Total |
18,563 |
37,476 |
-50.5 |
-48.5 |
52,804 |
101,402 |
-47.9 |
|
HUMMER Total |
831 |
3,451 |
-75.9 |
-75.0 |
3,106 |
9,863 |
-68.5 |
|
Pontiac Total |
1,133 |
1,801 |
-37.1 |
-34.6 |
3,760 |
6,532 |
-42.4 |
|
Saab Total |
413 |
513 |
-19.5 |
-16.3 |
974 |
1,358 |
-28.3 |
|
Saturn Total |
4,476 |
9,976 |
-55.1 |
-53.3 |
12,237 |
28,056 |
-56.4 |
|
GM Light Truck Total |
86,457 |
163,335 |
-47.1 |
-45.0 |
243,069 |
471,032 |
-48.4 |
|
* Twenty-five selling days (S/D) for the March period this year and twenty-six for last year. | |||||||