General Motors U.S. dealers delivered 274,482 new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles in December 2014, an increase of 19 percent compared to December 2013. The results represent GM’s best December sales in the U.S. market in seven years.
“Chevrolet was strong in every segment of the market, from pickups and SUVs to cars and crossovers. Buick and GMC also had strong sales across the board, and our growth far outpaced the industry average,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “Everything you need to have a great month was in place: Consumers felt good about the direction of the economy, interest rates and fuel prices were low, and our dealers did a great job introducing customers to our incredible range of new and redesigned vehicles.”
December sales highlights (vs. December 2013, except as noted):
- GM’s unique three-pickup strategy spanning mid-size, light-duty, and heavy-duty segments — drove combined truck deliveries to almost 87,000 units in December, a 43 percent increase compared with a year ago.
- Five GM vehicles — the Chevrolet Corvette and Spark, the Buick Enclave and Encore and the GMC Sierra — had their highest December sales ever.
- Seven GM vehicles — the Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Sonic and Spark, the GMC Terrain, and the Buick Enclave and Encore — had their best-ever annual sales in 2014.
- Retail sales, those to individual consumers, were up 23 percent to be the highest in 75 months.
- Chevrolet retails sales were up 25 percent, with December being the brand’s best December retail sales month since 2005
- Buick retails sales were up 28 percent and GMC retails sales were up 29 percent, representing their best December retail sales since 2004
- Fleet deliveries were up 6 percent, and commercial sales — which are about 24 percent of fleet sales — were also strong, with deliveries up 38 percent compared with a year ago. These were driven by a 65 percent increase in pickup sales. In fact, December marked GM’s 14th consecutive month of higher year-over-year sales in the commercial segment
- Chevrolet sales grew 20.5 percent to 184,938 units:
- Colorado saw sales of 4,037 units as availability improved throughout the month
- Silverado was up 35.8 percent to 57,837 units – its best December since 2005
- Tahoe was up 30.2 percent to 11,259 units and Suburban was up 16.2 percent to 6,761 units
- Trax saw sales of 739 units
- Equinox was up 23.7 percent to 21,298 units
- Traverse was up 10.9 percent to 8,654 units
- Spark was up 75.6 percent to 3,007 units
- Sonic was up 23 percent to 5,456 units
- Cruze was down 2 percent to 17,800 units
- Volt was down 37.7 percent to 1,490 units
- Malibu was up 8.5 percent to 16,817 units
- Impala was up 23.1 percent to 13,088 units
- The SS performance sedan was down 61.1 percent to 93 units
- Camaro was up 32.2 percent to 6,628 units
- Corvette was up 18.2 percent to 3,552 units
- The Express van was down 21.6 percent to 13,088 units
- The Nissan-built and developed City Express van sold 4,037 units
- GMC sales grew 23 percent to 53,038 units:
- Canyon saw sales of 1,533 units
- Sierra was up 31.3 percent to 23,436 units
- Terrain was up 37.9 percent to 11,032 units
- Acadia was down 7.6 percent to 7,323 units
- Yukon was up 31.5 percent to 4,729 units and Yukon XL was up 3.2 percent to 3,260 units
- Buick sales grew 32.4 percent to 20,357 units:
- Every Buick car and crossover posted a sales increase
- Enclave was up 53.4 percent to 7,393 units for its best month ever
- LaCrosse was up 61 percent to 5,034 units
- Regal was up 3.7 percent to 1,811 units
- Verano was up 3.0 percent to 3,017 units
- Encore was up 12.4 percent to 3,102 units
- Cadillac sales dropped 11.1 percent to 15,150 units:
- ATS was down 36.6 percent to 2,465 units
- The CTS range was down 17.6 percent to 2,652 units, but sales of the CTS sedan increased 4 percent
- XTS was down 14.8 percent to 2,276 units
- SRX was down 19.3 percent to 4,899 units
- Escalade was up 62 percent to 3,740 units
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs)
GM has now posted 27 consecutive months of year-over-year average transaction price (ATP) increases.
ATPs were a record $36,300, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates through December 21, up more than $1,000 per unit compared to November and up about $3,000 versus a year ago.
Incentives
Month over month, GM reduced incentive spending as a percentage of ATPs more than the industry average, according to PIN estimates, and the company has had the lowest incentives of all domestic automakers on an ATP basis in 10 of the last 12 months.
Incentive spending as a percentage of ATPs was 10.4 percent in December, down 0.8 points month over month, while industry average spending was 9.8 percent of ATP, down 0.4 points.
Fleet And Commercial
Sales to government customers were up 11 percent and sales to rental customers were down 13 percent.
On a volume and mix basis, GM had its most successful year in the fleet business since 2008, and was first in deliveries, surpassing Ford Motor Company.
Industry Sales
GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in December was 16.9 million. Light vehicle sales for the year were an estimated 16.6 million, above the upper end of the 16.0 million – 16.5 million range the company forecasted at the beginning of the year.
“The momentum the economy carried through 2014 accelerated in the fourth quarter,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “Car-buying fundamentals remain strong and we expect higher industry sales in 2015.”
By The Numbers - Sales Results - December 2014 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | DEC 2014 / DEC 2013 | DECEMBER 2014 | DECEMBER 2013 | YTD2014 / YTD2013 | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +20.5% | 184,938 | 153,493 | +4.4% | 2,033,442 | 1,947,125 |
| AVALANCHE | -98.4% | 2 | 127 | -99.4% | 92 | 16,526 |
| CAMARO | +32.2% | 6,628 | 5,015 | +7.1% | 86,297 | 80,567 |
| CAPRICE | -30.1% | 288 | 412 | -4.4% | 3,727 | 3,899 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | -99.4% | 15 | 2,634 | -25.7% | 35,368 | 47,600 |
| CITY EXPRESS | * | 506 | 0 | * | 530 | 0 |
| COLORADO | +201750% | 4,037 | 2 | +134.6% | 8,003 | 3,412 |
| CORVETTE | +18.2% | 3,552 | 3,005 | +101.5% | 34,839 | 17,291 |
| CRUZE | -2% | 17,800 | 18,162 | +10% | 273,060 | 248,224 |
| EQUINOX | +23.7% | 21,298 | 17,212 | +1.7% | 242,242 | 238,192 |
| EXPRESS | -21.6% | 5,611 | 7,159 | +0.3% | 79,352 | 79,087 |
| IMPALA | +23.1% | 13,088 | 10,633 | -10.5% | 140,280 | 156,797 |
| MALIBU | +8.5% | 16,817 | 15,493 | -6% | 188,519 | 200,594 |
| SILVERADO | +35.8% | 57,837 | 42,593 | +10.3% | 529,755 | 480,414 |
| SONIC | +23% | 5,456 | 4,435 | +9.2% | 93,518 | 85,646 |
| SPARK | +75.6% | 3,007 | 1,712 | +14.7% | 39,159 | 34,130 |
| SUBURBAN | +16.2% | 6,761 | 5,820 | +7.3% | 55,009 | 51,260 |
| SS | -61.1% | 93 | 239 | +493.1% | 2,479 | 418 |
| TAHOE | +30.2% | 11,259 | 8,646 | +17% | 97,726 | 83,502 |
| TRAVERSE | +10.9% | 8,654 | 7,802 | +7.7% | 103,943 | 96,467 |
| TRAX | * | 739 | 0 | * | 739 | 0 |
| VOLT | -37.7% | 1,490 | 2,392 | -18.6% | 18,805 | 23,094 |
By The Numbers - Sales Results - December 2014 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | DEC 2014 / DEC 2013 | DECEMBER 2014 | DECEMBER 2013 | YTD2014 / YTD2013 | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -11.1% | 16,150 | 18,165 | -6.5% | 170,750 | 182,543 |
| ATS | -36.6% | 2,465 | 3,887 | -22% | 29,890 | 38,319 |
| CTS | -17.6% | 2,652 | 3,217 | -3.8% | 31,115 | 32,343 |
| ELR | +1866.7% | 118 | 6 | +21733.3% | 1,310 | 6 |
| ESCALADE | +55.2% | 2,281 | 1,470 | +54.7% | 19,482 | 12,592 |
| ESCALADE ESV | +88.3% | 1,459 | 775 | +38.2% | 10,987 | 7,950 |
| ESCALADE EXT | * | 0 | 66 | -97.3% | 53 | 1,972 |
| SRX | -19.3% | 4,899 | 6,074 | -5.6% | 53,578 | 56,776 |
| XTS | -14.8% | 2,276 | 2,670 | -25.3% | 24,335 | 32,559 |
By The Numbers - Sales Results - December 2014 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | DEC 2014 / DEC 2013 | DECEMBER 2014 | DECEMBER 2013 | YTD2014 / YTD2013 | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC TOTAL | +23% | 53,038 | 43,120 | +11.3% | 501,853 | 450,901 |
| ACADIA | -7.6% | 7,323 | 7,923 | -6.5% | 83,972 | 89,793 |
| CANYON | +76550% | 1,533 | 2 | +230.5% | 3,070 | 929 |
| SAVANA | -33.3% | 1,725 | 2,588 | +59.5% | 26,641 | 16,705 |
| SIERRA | +31.3% | 23,436 | 17,854 | +14.9% | 211,833 | 184,389 |
| TERRAIN | +37.9% | 11,032 | 7,998 | +5.5% | 105,016 | 99,525 |
| YUKON | +31.5% | 4,729 | 3,597 | +46.9% | 41,569 | 28,302 |
| YUKON XL | +3.2% | 3,260 | 3,158 | -4.8% | 29,752 | 31,258 |
By The Numbers - Sales Results - December 2014 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | DEC 2014 / DEC 2013 | DECEMBER 2014 | DECEMBER 2013 | YTD2014 / YTD2013 | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUICK TOTAL | +32.4% | 20,357 | 15,379 | +11.4% | 228,963 | 205,509 |
| ENCLAVE | +53.4% | 7,393 | 4,819 | +2.9% | 62,300 | 60,534 |
| ENCORE | +12.4% | 3,102 | 2,761 | +53% | 48,892 | 31,956 |
| LACROSSE | +61.2% | 5,034 | 3,123 | +5.5% | 51,468 | 48,798 |
| REGAL | +3.7% | 1,811 | 1,747 | +20.7% | 22,560 | 18,685 |
| VERANO | +3% | 3,017 | 2,929 | -3.9% | 43,743 | 45,527 |
By The Numbers - Sales Results - December 2014 - USA - GM Total
| BRAND | DEC 2014 / DEC 2013 | DECEMBER 2014 | DECEMBER 2013 | YTD2014 / YTD2013 | YTD 2014 | YTD 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM US TOTAL | +19.3% | 274,483 | 230,157 | +5.3% | 2,935,008 | 2,786,078 |
| BUICK | +32.4% | 20,357 | 15,379 | +11.4% | 228,963 | 205,509 |
| CADILLAC | -11.1% | 16,150 | 18,165 | -6.5% | 170,750 | 182,543 |
| CHEVROLET | +20.5% | 184,938 | 153,493 | +4.4% | 2,033,442 | 1,947,125 |
| GMC | +23% | 53,038 | 43,120 | +11.3% | 501,853 | 450,901 |
About The Charts
- 26 selling days for December 2014, and 25 for December 2013.
- Totals contain discontinued models, including Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and STS, as well as the Chevrolet Aveo and HHR.
Comments
Big year for the full size vehicles, looks like the K2XX is really panning out with trucks and SUVs. The trucks almost topped F series for the year, and it was many months for the trucks to catch on.
Really loving the direction that Buick and GMC have moved to. Will be interesting to see how far these brands can go with the right product evolution.
Agreed, Buick and GMC are becoming powerhouses with great potential for growth with the right product mix. Looked at as one brand, and they outsell the Korean brands, and are within striking distance of Nissan minus the huge discounts.
Buick is a far healthier brand than it was just four years ago. The next Regal, Lacrosse, Verano, Envision, Cascada and possible RWD offering should push the brand a little north of 300,000 units yearly. GM saved the correct brand and, in the process, rivals brands like Lincoln, Acura and Lexus but at the old Oldsmobile price point. If Cadillac continues to stutter, GM will be okay.
As for GMC, the brand will grow more if Ruess’s comments regarding a unique vehicle are true. I suspect it will be a varient of the model shown at the Moscow Autoshow. Unique truck bodies would also dramatically increase sales at minimal investment.
Buick/GMC has a real chance of being the forth domestic ‘big’ brand much like Oldsmobile once was.
Good lord, 80k full-size pickups and 30k full-size SUVS!
With lower oil prices consumer spending will be for a while. This is going to continue to boost all auto sales.
I just wish they would stop reporting the percentages as they are deceiving. I wish more emphasis was put on total sales and profits.
The key here not really shown is GM is up in total sales and they are one of the more profitable per unit sold. Their transaction prices are great.
The report has both — percentages and actual sales figures. What’s deceiving about that?
I can see that but the stories and headlines only really state the percentages. Often the percentages will praise or condemn a company in the story but few people take the time to read the story and add up the real sales.
This is one of the few places where this was reported that they did give both info as most do not. In the post then have not here but look to have made a change.
Case in point many of the stories else where are praising Chrysler high percentages of increase but there sales were so far down last year a small gain in numbers is a big percentage. Also it leaves out that they are discounting car heavily so the profits will be less than stellar.
My point is too often the full story is left out and I was not so much meaning here. This was about the 4th report of sales I saw and I even heard the same on the radio.