After the company’s best sales year ever, General Motors comes out of the gate for 2012, and trips. Sales were down 6.1%, with declines coming from each brand. And while there are a few reasons as to why, there is some silver lining, with compact passenger cars surging roughly 30 percent compared to the same time last year thanks to the new Chevy Sonic and Buick Verano. In total, GM sold 167,962 vehicles in the United States during January 2012.
After a red hot 2011, Buick seems to be taking an ice bath, selling 10,208 units compared to the 13,269 units observed a year ago. All vehicles but the LaCrosse experienced sales dives during January 2012, with the Enclave and Regal dropping a full -28.1 and -20.6 percentage points, respectively. Yes, the discontinued Lucerne factors into the equation, selling 421 units compared to the 2,816 it sold a year ago when it was still in production. The launch of the Verano is slowly picking up speed as well, with 795 units sold. On the horizon to hopefully revive things is a refreshed 2013 Enclave, and the small Encore crossover in a year from now.
The months leading up to this spring’s launch of the XTS and this summer’s launch of the ATS are shaping up to be brutal for the Wreath and Crest. The CTS plunged -30.8% in January 2012, selling 3,019 units, while the Escalade line took a -28% dive and the SRX line stayed virtually even, sliding just -1.7%. The bygone STS and DTS still linger into the equation, with the DTS accounting for nearly 1,300 units of lost ground. In total, Caddy sold just 8,924 units.
Chevrolet was the only GM brand that stayed relatively even in January 2012 compared to a year ago. The Impala was Chevy’s best selling passenger car with 16,009 unit sales, translating to a 5.4% gain. Second was the Cruze with 15,049 sales, up a solid 10.4%, followed by the Malibu with 14,676 sales, or a growth of 4.1%. The Sonic subcompact sold another 5,712 units, and Camaro sales grew 19.9%. However, full-sized truck sales were down -4.7%, and the Volt sold just 603 units. That may be more than the 321 units sold a year ago, but it’s less than half of the 1,529 units it sold in December. We can probably blame Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh for that one. In total, Chevy sold 123,864 units in January 2012.
GMC didn’t see much success during January 2012 either, selling 24,966 units. Full-sized truck sales were down, as were crossover sales. However Savanna and Canyon sales were suspiciously up. Expect a refreshed GMC Acadia to show at this month’s Chicago Auto Show that will stimulate sales for Big Red.
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2012 | 2011 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2012 | YTD 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -1.2 | 123,864 | 125,389 | -1.2 | 123,864 | 125,389 |
| AVALANCHE | +15.7 | 1,617 | 1,397 | +15.7 | 1,617 | 1,397 |
| AVEO | -99.4 | 16 | 2,739 | -99.4 | 16 | 2,739 |
| CAMARO | +19.9 | 5,709 | 4,763 | +19.9 | 5,709 | 4,763 |
| CAPRICE | * | 92 | 0 | * | 92 | 0 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | * | 2,261 | 0 | * | 2,261 | 0 |
| COBALT | -99.8 | 1 | 406 | -99.8 | 1 | 406 |
| COLORADO | +30.3 | 2,872 | 2,204 | +30.3 | 2,872 | 2,204 |
| CORVETTE | -12.8 | 629 | 721 | -12.8 | 629 | 721 |
| CRUZE | +10.4 | 15,049 | 13,631 | +10.4 | 15,049 | 13,631 |
| EQUINOX | +6.3 | 13,662 | 12,847 | +6.3 | 13,662 | 12,847 |
| EXPRESS | -14.1 | 4,532 | 5,273 | -14.1 | 4,532 | 5,273 |
| HHR | -99.9 | 4 | 7,387 | -99.9 | 4 | 7,387 |
| IMPALA | +5.4 | 16,009 | 15,188 | +5.4 | 16,009 | 15,188 |
| MALIBU | +4.1 | 14,676 | 14,102 | +4.1 | 14,676 | 14,102 |
| SILVERADO | -4.7 | 26,850 | 28,172 | -4.7 | 26,850 | 28,172 |
| SONIC | * | 5,712 | 0 | * | 5,712 | 0 |
| SUBURBAN | +25.3 | 2,935 | 2,343 | +25.3 | 2,935 | 2,343 |
| TAHOE | -24.4 | 3,995 | 5,281 | -24.4 | 3,995 | 5,281 |
| TRAILBLAZER | * | 0 | 9 | * | 0 | 9 |
| TRAVERSE | -22.8 | 6,640 | 8,605 | -22.8 | 6,640 | 8,605 |
| VOLT | +87.9 | 603 | 321 | * | 603 | 321 |
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2012 | 2011 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2012 | YTD 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUICK TOTAL | -23.1 | 10,208 | 13,269 | -23.1 | 10,208 | 13,269 |
| ENCLAVE | -28.1 | 3,124 | 4,347 | -28.1 | 3,124 | 4,347 |
| LACROSSE | +6.4 | 4,013 | 3,771 | +6.4 | 4,013 | 3,771 |
| LUCERNE | -85.0 | 421 | 2,816 | -85.0 | 421 | 2,816 |
| REGAL | -20.6 | 1,855 | 2,335 | -20.6 | 1,855 | 2,335 |
| VERANO | * | 795 | 0 | * | 795 | 0 |
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2012 | 2011 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2012 | YTD 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC TOTAL | -9.7 | 24,966 | 27,658 | -9.7 | 24,966 | 27,658 |
| ACADIA | -14.9 | 4,870 | 5,723 | -14.9 | 4,870 | 5,723 |
| CANYON | +52.6 | 1,059 | 694 | +52.6 | 1,059 | 694 |
| ENVOY | -100.0 | 0 | 1 | -100.0 | 0 | 1 |
| SAVANA | +16.7 | 838 | 718 | +16.7 | 838 | 718 |
| SIERRA | -10.4 | 9,517 | 10,627 | -10.4 | 9,517 | 10,627 |
| TERRAIN | -11.3 | 5,649 | 6,369 | -11.3 | 5,649 | 6,369 |
| YUKON | -2.6 | 2,022 | 2,076 | -2.6 | 2,022 | 2,076 |
| YUKON XL | -30.3 | 1,011 | 1,450 | -30.3 | 1,011 | 1,450 |
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2012 | 2011 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2012 | YTD 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -29.1 | 8,924 | 12,580 | -29.1 | 8,924 | 12,580 |
| CTS | -30.8 | 3,019 | 4,362 | -30.8 | 3,019 | 4,362 |
| DTS | -93.5 | 89 | 1,365 | -93.5 | 89 | 1,365 |
| ESCALADE | -34.9 | 985 | 1,514 | -34.9 | 985 | 1,514 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -10.3 | 531 | 592 | -10.3 | 531 | 592 |
| ESCALADE EXT | -29.4 | 108 | 153 | -29.4 | 108 | 153 |
| SRX | -1.7 | 4,166 | 4,236 | -1.7 | 4,166 | 4,236 |
| STS | -92.8 | 26 | 359 | -92.8 | 26 | 359 |
| XLR | * | 0 | -1 | * | 0 | -1 |
| BRAND | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2012 | 2011 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2012 | YTD 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM US TOTAL | -6.1 | 167,962 | 178,896 | -6.1 | 167,962 | 178,896 |
| BUICK | -23.1 | 10,208 | 13,269 | -23.1 | 10,208 | 13,269 |
| CADILLAC | -29.1 | 8,924 | 12,580 | -29.1 | 8,924 | 12,580 |
| CHEVROLET | -1.2 | 123,864 | 125,389 | -1.2 | 123,864 | 125,389 |
| GMC | -9.7 | 24,966 | 27,658 | -9.7 | 24,966 | 27,658 |
Moving opposite to market trends.
With four model years recommended for purchase.
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
Many automakers oppose right-to-repair laws citing cybersecurity concerns.
Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
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How the hell they let a Cadillac division stay with ONE car lineup - CTS ??? As for Buick – very slow start for the Verano not to mention the long – in – the – tooth Enclave. On the other at least the Enclave is getting a makeover soon, and Caddy will get new models. But what happened to the Regal ? Really good news is that Chevy is doing well – hey even the dated Impala is solid seller ( fleet mostly ).
Even with fleet sales, I still have dificullty comprehending how the hell GM sells more impalas then Cruzes.
Chevy: Stable Recovery(GM just needs to maintain a steady stream of new/refreshed products like at least one every six months.
Cadillac: Its legs just got amputated(sts and dts) but better legs are right around the corner(ATS and XTS)
Buick: Brought back from the dead(Lacrosse and Regal) and now needs to prove its worth keeping alive(Verano and Encore)
GMC: ALARM BELLS GOING OFF
GM needs to fix GMC like right now. A brand cannot survive if its every model is a rebadge. Every GM brand has new products in the pipeline except GMC. I hope we dont have to see another slow death from yet another GM brand.
"A little early" Its January, try "WAY to early". Whats up Fox news?
How is it that the Volt goes from 321 in 1/11 to 603 in 1/12 but is -1.2%? shouldn't that be +88%?
Thanks for pointing that out. That was an error with our formula that we just fixed.
can you post the sales call transcript??
My observation: if GM would be more consistent on what products they offer then negative sales months wouldn't happen.
Examples:
1. Loss of HHR equates to Chevy losing over 7300 vehicle sales. Why didn't they do a wagon replacement for it before canceling it? 7000 units means the product is a success, why kill it (as a brand line, knowing the HHR needed updating)?
2. Loss of the Lucerne equates to Buick losing over 2800 vehicle sales. Why didn't they do a true replacement for it (a true full size flagship product)? 2800 units in a month would have made Buick almost even for the month.
3. Loss of the DTS before the XTS was out meant Cadillac losing 1300+ units. Why not wait a few more months to make sure those customers don't go elsewhere?
These are just a few examples of how GM has not committed to a name or product to help grow it within the brand. Hopefully the new management stops this crazy inconsistency.
January 2011 was heavily incentivised. The Brass wanted to come out of the gate strong last year and got ripped for it. This year incentives are down, and the Brass is getting ripped for it. WTF!
Interesting take, Dave. They can't win!