GM says March deliveries were 45% lower than '08

General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 156,380 vehicles in March, down 45 percent compared with a year ago. However, comparing March sales with February, seven of eight GM brands saw total sales increases with total volume up 23 percent, or more than 29,000 cars, crossovers and trucks. GM's car sales compared with February were up more than 15,000 vehicles (28 percent), truck sales were up nearly 11,000 vehicles (23 percent), and crossover sales increased more than 3,000 vehicles (12 percent) .

"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
In March, GM North America produced 170,000 vehicles (73,000 cars and 97,000 trucks). This is down 67,000 vehicles or 28 percent compared with March 2008 when the region produced 237,000 vehicles (124,000 cars and 113,000 trucks). (Production totals include joint venture production of 8,000 vehicles in March 2009 and 20,000 vehicles in March 2008.)

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 *S/D Prev: 26	March				(Calendar Year-to-Date) January - March
	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. Effective Aug '07, GM only includes GMC & Chevrolet dealer deliveries of commercial vehicles distributed by American Isuzu Motors, Inc.