General Motors dealers delivered 222,104 vehicles in the United States in February 2014, representing a 1 percent decline year-over-year. Notably, the results beat outside expectations.
Retail and fleet sales were both down 1 percent, and total sales are up 30 percent compared to January 2014, more than 10 percentage points better than the industry as a whole.
“Weather continued to impact the industry in February, but GM sales started to thaw during the Winter Olympic Games as our brand and marketing messages took hold,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “Car and crossover sales were particularly strong at Buick and Chevrolet, and we continue to have a strong mix of pickup sales.”
“Despite a slower start to 2014 than most people expected, we look forward to a very successful year, backed by plenty of new products and what should be the strongest GDP growth since the end of the recession.”
February sales highlights (vs. February 2013):
- Passenger car sales were up 8 percent, with Buick deliveries up across the board.
- The Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze and Malibu posted double-digit sales increases.
- The Chevrolet Cruze and the Buick Verano had their best February sales ever.
- Deliveries of the Corvette were up 149 percent.
- The all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan helped drive a 7 percent increase in retail sales for the CTS range. Segment share is estimated to be up 1.6 points.
- Crossover sales were up 4 percent. Sales of the Buick Encore nearly doubled, the Cadillac SRX was up 23 percent and GMC Acadia deliveries were up 2 percent. The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Equinox had their best February sales ever.
- Retail deliveries of Chevrolet and GMC large SUVs were up 14 percent.
- GM’s retail share of light-duty pickup sales increased an estimated 2 percentage points or more from January 2014.
- The mix of light duty pickups powered by GM’s all-new EcoTec3 V6, which offers best-in-class fuel economy, towing and payload (depending on configuration) increased 2 percentage points month over month to about 20 percent of retail sales.
- The average transaction prices for GM’s full-size pickups were in line with January 2014 levels, according to mid-month J.D. Power PIN estimates. More than half of light-duty pickup sales continue to be premium-contented models.
- Incentive spending increased slightly month over month on both an absolute basis and as a percentage of average transaction prices due primarily to the sell-down of older model heavy-duty pickups and large SUVs. GM’s increase was less than the industry average, according to J.D. Power PIN.
- GM increased its commercial fleet sales for the fourth month in a row, with deliveries up more than 1 percent; commercial deliveries are up 8 percent year to date.
To note, GM’s cross-town rival, Ford Motor Company, posted a 6 percent sales drop in the same period. See FoMoCo’s results here.
February 2014 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2014 | 2013 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -2.92 | 153,913 | 158,541 | -7.72 | 273,002 | 295,845 |
| AVALANCHE | -98.85 | 26 | 2,263 | -98.64 | 57 | 4,202 |
| CAMARO | +0.65 | 6,211 | 6,171 | -1.37 | 10,944 | 11,096 |
| CAPRICE | +60.2 | 322 | 201 | +19.18 | 522 | 438 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | +15.13 | 4,452 | 3,867 | +5.31 | 8,217 | 7,803 |
| COLORADO | -99.88 | 1 | 828 | -99.09 | 15 | 1,650 |
| CORVETTE | +148.78 | 2,438 | 980 | +148.89 | 4,699 | 1,888 |
| CRUZE | +21.67 | 21,836 | 17,947 | +19.07 | 38,664 | 32,471 |
| EQUINOX | +4.54 | 21,587 | 20,649 | -4.59 | 36,134 | 37,872 |
| EXPRESS | -13.23 | 4,776 | 5,504 | -8.43 | 8,668 | 9,466 |
| IMPALA | -22.15 | 12,008 | 15,424 | -19.17 | 23,906 | 29,577 |
| MALIBU | +17.76 | 17,448 | 14,817 | -4.47 | 29,270 | 30,640 |
| SILVERADO | -12.15 | 36,584 | 41,643 | -15.02 | 65,510 | 77,088 |
| SONIC | +25.91 | 7,586 | 6,025 | +7.35 | 14,173 | 13,202 |
| SPARK | -9.17 | 2,576 | 2,836 | -15.64 | 4,424 | 5,244 |
| SUBURBAN | -45.66 | 2,035 | 3,745 | -38.05 | 3,740 | 6,037 |
| SS | * | 283 | 0 | * | 515 | 0 |
| TAHOE | -6.68 | 4,961 | 5,316 | -5.15 | 8,475 | 8,935 |
| TRAVERSE | -12.93 | 7,573 | 8,698 | -16.34 | 12,941 | 15,468 |
| VOLT | -25.58 | 1,210 | 1,626 | -23.07 | 2,128 | 2,766 |
February 2014 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2014 | 2013 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -2.95 | 13,437 | 13,845 | -7.93 | 24,823 | 26,961 |
| ATS | -28.24 | 2,427 | 3,382 | -29.64 | 4,336 | 6,163 |
| CTS | -2.22 | 2,509 | 2,566 | -6.51 | 4,741 | 5,071 |
| ELR | * | 58 | 0 | * | 99 | 0 |
| ESCALADE | -8.27 | 776 | 846 | -13.09 | 1,480 | 1,703 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -15.12 | 494 | 582 | -20.45 | 875 | 1,100 |
| ESCALADE EXT | -95.29 | 9 | 191 | -90.63 | 34 | 363 |
| SRX | +23.13 | 5,058 | 4,108 | +11.97 | 9,504 | 8,488 |
| XTS | -2.9 | 2,106 | 2,169 | -7.74 | 3,754 | 4,069 |
February 2014 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2014 | 2013 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUICK TOTAL | +18.84 | 19,192 | 16,150 | +9.65 | 32,470 | 29,613 |
| ENCLAVE | +1.49 | 5,319 | 5,241 | -12.9 | 8,828 | 10,136 |
| ENCORE | +92.74 | 3,078 | 1,597 | +179.18 | 5,444 | 1,950 |
| LACROSSE | +12.44 | 4,123 | 3,667 | -3.37 | 6,972 | 7,215 |
| REGAL | +49.25 | 2,200 | 1,474 | +46.59 | 3,634 | 2,479 |
| VERANO | +7.22 | 4,472 | 4,171 | -3.05 | 7,592 | 7,831 |
February 2014 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2014 | 2013 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC TOTAL | -0.6 | 35,562 | 35,778 | -4.95 | 63,295 | 66,594 |
| ACADIA | +2.29 | 6,780 | 6,628 | +3.61 | 12,243 | 11,816 |
| CANYON | * | 0 | 180 | -99.79 | 1 | 482 |
| SAVANA | +147.63 | 2,194 | 886 | +113.99 | 4,130 | 1,930 |
| SIERRA | +0.7 | 14,232 | 14,133 | -6.04 | 25,350 | 26,979 |
| TERRAIN | -5.15 | 9,297 | 9,802 | -10.85 | 16,360 | 18,352 |
| YUKON | -24.22 | 1,949 | 2,572 | -24.07 | 3,236 | 4,262 |
| YUKON XL | -29.61 | 1,110 | 1,577 | -28.78 | 1,975 | 2,773 |
February 2014 - USA - GM Total
| BRAND | YOY MONTHLY CHANGE | 2014 | 2013 | YTD % CHG | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM US TOTAL | -0.99 | 222,104 | 224,314 | -6.07 | 393,590 | 419,013 |
| BUICK | +18.84 | 19,192 | 16,150 | +9.65 | 32,470 | 29,613 |
| CADILLAC | -2.95 | 13,437 | 13,845 | -7.93 | 24,823 | 26,961 |
| CHEVROLET | -2.92 | 153,913 | 158,541 | -7.72 | 273,002 | 295,845 |
| GMC | -0.6 | 35,562 | 35,778 | -4.95 | 63,295 | 66,594 |
Comments
Ford F series: Feb 2013 – 54,489, Feb 2014 – 55,882
Ram: Feb 2013 – 23,289, Feb 2014 – 29,303
What’s wrong with this picture? Everyone’s sales are up except for Silverado’s. Again. Put the 4.3 out of its misery already and make the third engine option something turbocharged – diesel or gas.
The above free GM advertisement is false in that the 4.3 is not the most fuel efficient V6 in its class. Ram Diesel and Ram 3,6 both do better. In 4×4 form, the 4.3 gets 17/22mpg vs GM’s own 5.3 V8’s 16/22mpg. Everyone say it with me now: The new GM V6 serves no purpose whatsoever.
(I agree with you Magirus)
You Silverado fans can use any excuse in the book, but we all know the real reason the Silverado is selling poorly is an unattractive appearance that lacks what the other competitors have. The F-150 has the sophisitcated and soft look, and the RAM 1500 has the aggresive and angry look…The Silverado is the bastard mix of the two and its executed very poorly. The grill is excessively upright and tall and makes the rest of the truck inproportionate, along with the boxed wheel wells and the lack of other bodily changes. I forsee this truck taking 3rd place, after RAM.
RAM has the EcoDiesel and overall improved truck going for them. Ford has the proven current design and the promise of an innovative and new F-150 with lightweight materials. Chevrolet has NOTHING new going for them. They will copy Ford with Aluminum materials, and they will copy RAM with a 1/2 Ton diesel, like usual. Bowtie fans have to accept the fact that GM cant dominate this market.
Suprisingly though, i believe the Sierra is a great looking truck and a great representation of a 1/2 ton truck. In reality, Chevrolet should have went a more moderate position and released a truck based on performance rather than a oversized front fascia. Sadly, with the recent recalls, these sales WONT improve.
Once again GM is in a position of needing to restrategize their approach to the market; what they’re doing now is failing.
It’s been an ominous past few months of poor sales and weak profit margins! I personally believe it’s due to aggressive pricing and lack of appeal for their vehicles. Things have gotta change for GM or they’ll find themselves needing another bailout!!! I respect GM as a company, and I’m no financial or business expert, but I see the faults in GM’s strategizing and the fruits are obvious.
– Looks like the ELR is on its way to falling on its face (due to being vastly overpriced, IMHO). There are 49 cars available within 25 mi of my house, so it’s not an inventory problem. A lot of energy expended for a car that doesn’t look like it is going to sell even 2500 units.
– Are the Impala sales lower b/c of big shift away from fleet sales? I hope so, b/c otherwise that’s a big disappointment for such a well-reviewed, well-designed car.
– Corvette is crushing it, which is great.
The ELR is WAY overpriced and i forsee it will be a complete miss on the sales chart. I cant imagine a reason id spend $75K for an electric coupe built on a Volt ($40K) platform. Every magazine/review ive read of it said the same thing. A Tesla isnt much above that price range and i would MUCH rather a Model S. Especially since its a RWD Sport sedan.
For the Impala i believe its a mix of lack of appeal against other competitors and a predisposition over former Impala models.
Look at the Taurus and Charger; (For big-3 American Full-Size sedans)
Taurus- Available EcoBoost 3.5L V6 (365hp) with Available AWD system.
Charger- RWD Dedicated with Available 5.7L (370hp) and 6.4L (470hp) Hemi and Available AWD system.
The Impala looks way outclassed;
Impala- FWD with Available 3.6L V6 (305hp)
No matter how many good reviews i hear about it, There is NOTHING about it that would make me want to buy it over its cross-town rivals.
The Impala was known as a “Fleet Queen” from its previous generation and effectively one of the most “Lackluster” sedans of recent times. I dont think anyone wants that moniker to live on in their $30K investment. No matter how many positive reviews are out there.
Despite your opinions of the previous generation ‘fleet Queen’ Impala, the 2014 Impala scored 95 in a CR review, third only to the Model S (99) and the 1-series (97).
Source:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/07/2014-chevrolet-impala-highest-scoring-sedan-consumer-reports/index.htm
But what does CR know, apart from being the “go to source” for car reviews used by the mainstream, car-buying public? Surely the minority consumers that call themselves “enthusiasts” know that because the Impala doesn’t come with a 5-speed, RWD, and 400hp that it must be a terrible car.
Don’t worry. The only place where RWD and AWD matter in that segment is in your little head. I’m sure CR gave the Taurus and Charger slightly above mediocre scores, despite your unsubstantiated opinions about full-size cars.
Supercharge that 4.3 V-6, to lets say 380 bhp and 430 lb-ft. However, I do agree with some of the critics, GM needs to bring another engine option to they pickup truck range. Also, GM needs to change those head lights in the Silverado to a similar design like the new Colorado head lights (for a more modern look). So for 2015, GM also needs to install those damn 8 or 10 speed transmissions in as much models as possible in order to give their trucks and SUVs a much needed advantage in mpg and performance in the market place.
I bet a cookie if they put the same $5,000 incentive on the Chevy that the Dodge carries you would see the same results.
The Diesel option should be offered but do not expect it to be a major part of sales.
The 4.3 stays as they have to have a NA based engine. I would like to see an additional V6 option like a 3.6 TT or 3.0 TT but the issue is will it provide anymore power and economy than the present 5.3?
While the GM engines are not all the sexy they so provide competitive power and economy vs. the gimmick engines.
I love the DI turbo engines but you have to offer something more for the money to make any sense to offer them.
Also if they add more to the cost of the truck will even higher prices make a difference. In the Ford it has not but Ford also did a good job of marketing the engine. There is not much advantage to the T V6 over their V8 but the marketing has sold the engine to people at a higher cost.
To do as some want GM to do will take more than just putting these things in the trucks.
The thing most wrong with the 4.3 is the size. The engine is totally new based on a totally new LT engine. While it is still called the Small Block Chevy there is nothing shared with any small block from the past. The truth is the engine is a clean sheet of paper new but so few people realize it since there is no real marketing to express this is not the old engine.
Over all everyone is down this time of year and the incentives are just starting with Auto Show season. the spring will be interesting to follow.
The Buick Encore sales intricate there’s a market for a small SUV. They need to refresh the Equinox badly.
This, a thousand times. The reason Jeep is doing so well is their revamped Cherokee.
The Equinox/Terrian are still selling well, considering how old they are b/c they are a nice car that is well-designed, but GM needs a smaller version and a bigger version of the current tweener–fast. But as far as I can tell, it’s not coming out until about two years from now. That’s a year too slow.
Akerson did some nice things while at GM, but not getting that re-design ready more quickly, as small CUVs are where the market has been going, was one of his many mistakes.
I am glad to see the Malibu sales up! I have been seeing more and more Sonic’s, Spark’s and Malibu’s lately! As for the trucks, there could be many reasons why they are not selling. It could be the fact that some of them are built in Mexico (which I highly doubt), it could be the design (which is very unlikely as they are some of the best looking in the market), it could just be the weather or all of those put together are scaring customers away.
The new ECOTEC3 engines are very good for what they are although I do think GM should do more for more power and better efficiency.
LD’s:
-2.8L S/C V6 (VVT, SIDI and iVVL) that has 310HP/330FT-LBS
-3.2L TDI V6 that has 290HP/460FT-LBS
-5.3L V8 (VVT, SIDI, AFM and iVVL) that has 375HP/405FT-LBS
HD’s:
-6.2L V8 (VVT, SIDI, AFM and iVVL) that has 430HP/465FT-LBS
-6.6L TDI V8 that has 415HP/790FT-LBS
You and I may not want a 1500 diesel or turbo 6, but the rest of the market craves it. Ford’s Ecoboost and Ram’s Ecodiesel are some great engines and GM has to do some more “catching up” in order to beat their competition.