Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in the United States delivered 270,480 new vehicles in August 2015, a 0.7 percent decrease compared to August 2014. Sales of the Buick and GMC brands were up year-over-year, while those of Chevrolet and Cadillac were down. Even so, the results represent the industry’s largest retail sales increase for the month.
“GM’s retail sales increase far outpaced the industry in August, and we have grown our retail share for five months in a row compared to last year,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We will continue this momentum with the redesigned Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu, the launch of diesel engines for our midsize pickups, a dramatic restyling of the Chevrolet Silverado and the aggressive rollout of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”
GM’s strong performance came during a very strong month for the industry, which had an estimated seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles of 17.5 million units in August, the fourth month in a row above 17 million units – a streak unmatched since 2006.
“All of the economic fundamentals that we look at, including job growth, disposable income and fuel prices, are in good shape and that should keep sales strong,” McNeil said.
August 2015 highlights (vs. August 2014, except as noted):
- General Motors:
- Retail deliveries climbed 6 percent compared with a year ago, when results included the Labor Day holiday
- Fleet sales were down 24 percent on a 38 percent decline in rental deliveries
- Total sales were in line with a year ago
- GM had the industry’s largest retail sales increase and gained more than 1 percentage point of retail market share year-over-year, based on J.D. Power PIN estimates
- GM continues to have the highest average transaction prices (ATPs) and had the lowest incentives as a percentage of ATP in the domestic industry, according to PIN
- GM continues to execute its plan to reduce sales to rental customers, with rental deliveries in August were down approximately 15,000 units, or 38 percent, and they are expected to be down again in September
- Commercial deliveries were up 2 percent year-over-year, the 22nd consecutive monthly sales increase
- Government sales were up 6 percent, with deliveries to state and local government agencies up 10 percent
- Calendar year-to-date, commercial deliveries are up 16 percent, government sales are up 5 percent and rental deliveries are down 14 percent. Total fleet deliveries are down 5 percent
- Pickup sales to fleets have increased year-over-year for 16 straight months due to strong demand from commercial and government agency customers
- Chevrolet was down 1.52 percent to 183,098 units:
- Corvette was up 1.72 percent to 2,725 units
- Equinox was up 17.88 percent to 25,211 units
- Impala was up 0.8 percent to 9,880 units
- Malibu was up 7.38 percent to 17,553 units
- Silverado was up 11.74 percent to 54,977 units
- SS was up 126.32 percent to 344 units
- Tahoe was (barely) up 0.06 percent to 8,221 units
- City Express accounted for 1,092 sales
- Colorado accounted for 7,114 sales, remaining America’s fastest-selling pickup with a “days to turn” of 19 days
- Trax accounted for 5,985 units
- All other Chevrolet models posted a year-over-year sales decrease
- On a segment basis:
- Crossovers posted their highest August total and retail sales ever
- Truck sales have increased for 16 consecutive months
- Pickup deliveries were up 26 percent
- Cadillac was down 5.48 percent to 15,738 units
- ATS was down 12.66 percent to 2,449 units
- CTS was down 33.26 percent to 1,730 units
- ELR was down 77 percent to 45 units
- Escalade was down 22.27 percent to 1,770 units and Escalade ESV was up 4.22 percent to 1,310 units
- SRX was up 51.88 percent to 6,903 units
- XTS was down 48.59 percent to 1,531 units
- Buick was (barely) up 0.62 percent to 22,281 units:
- Enclave was up 27.4 percent to 7,839 units for its best August ever
- Encore was up 29.16 percent to 6,286 units, its 20th consecutive year-over-year sales increase
- LaCrosse was up 1.21 percent to 4,508 units
- Regal was down 23.3 percent to 1,450 units
- Verano was down 48.42 percent to 2,648 units
- GMC was up 3.49 percent to 49,363 units for its best August since 2005:
- Acadia was up 10.15 percent to 9,050 units for its best August ever
- Savana was down 61.31 percent to 744 units
- Sierra was up 7 percent to 21,241 units
- Terrain was down 4.58 percent to 9,237 units
- Yukon was down 4.71 percent to 4,492 units and Yukon XL was down 34.47 percent to 2,175 units
- Canyon accounted for 2,424 sales
- Pickup deliveries were up 21 percent, and the Sierra and Canyon have the highest ATPs in their respective segments, according to PIN. What’s more, the Sierra has the highest ATPs of any pickup line in the industry.
Sales Results - August 2015 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | AUG 2015 / AUG 2014 | AUGUST 2015 | AUGUST 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMARO | -23.33% | 6,236 | 8,134 | -13.08% | 56,298 | 64,767 |
| CAPRICE | -58.78% | 176 | 427 | -55.52% | 1,119 | 2,516 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | -99.95% | 1 | 1,893 | -99.84% | 55 | 35,201 |
| CITY EXPRESS | * | 1,092 | * | * | 6,380 | * |
| COLORADO | * | 7,114 | 0 | +76,472.60% | 55,898 | 73 |
| CORVETTE | +1.72% | 2,725 | 2,679 | +1.46% | 23,826 | 23,483 |
| CRUZE | -37.44% | 14,661 | 23,435 | -13.58% | 163,938 | 189,699 |
| EQUINOX | +17.88% | 25,211 | 21,387 | +14.90% | 192,505 | 167,539 |
| EXPRESS | -45.57% | 5,522 | 10,146 | -34.75% | 37,542 | 57,533 |
| IMPALA | +0.80% | 9,880 | 9,802 | -22.29% | 76,107 | 97,937 |
| MALIBU | +7.38% | 17,553 | 16,346 | -2.47% | 130,095 | 133,388 |
| SILVERADO | +11.74% | 54,977 | 49,201 | +16.63% | 387,179 | 331,977 |
| SONIC | -63.46% | 4,677 | 12,799 | -32.84% | 46,755 | 69,619 |
| SPARK | -4.28% | 2,772 | 2,896 | -11.91% | 25,468 | 28,910 |
| SS | +126.32% | 344 | 152 | +7.01% | 2,199 | 2,055 |
| SUBURBAN | -21.73% | 4,499 | 5,748 | -6.65% | 32,194 | 34,487 |
| TAHOE | +0.06% | 8,221 | 8,216 | -9.61% | 58,609 | 64,837 |
| TRAVERSE | -0.80% | 10,072 | 10,153 | +17.24% | 84,106 | 71,739 |
| TRAX | * | 5,985 | * | * | 36,911 | * |
| VOLT | -45.04% | 1,380 | 2,511 | -36.75% | 8,315 | 13,146 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -1.52% | 183,098 | 185,930 | +2.63% | 1,425,507 | 1,388,993 |
Sales Results - August 2015 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | AUG 2015 / AUG 2014 | AUGUST 2015 | AUGUST 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -12.66% | 2,449 | 2,804 | -18.49% | 16,544 | 20,296 |
| CTS | -33.26% | 1,730 | 2,592 | -37.33% | 12,934 | 20,639 |
| ELR | -77.04% | 45 | 196 | -9.04% | 704 | 774 |
| ESCALADE | -22.27% | 1,770 | 2,277 | +16.94% | 13,349 | 11,415 |
| ESCALADE ESV | +4.22% | 1,310 | 1,257 | +39.77% | 8,972 | 6,419 |
| SRX | +51.88% | 6,903 | 4,545 | +15.40% | 43,863 | 38,008 |
| XTS | -48.59% | 1,531 | 2,978 | -12.09% | 14,423 | 16,407 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -5.48% | 15,738 | 16,650 | -2.82% | 110,791 | 114,008 |
Sales Results - August 2015 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | AUG 2015 / AUG 2014 | AUGUST 2015 | AUGUST 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENCLAVE | +27.40% | 7,389 | 5,800 | +2.05% | 42,053 | 41,208 |
| ENCORE | +29.16% | 6,286 | 4,867 | +33.99% | 43,661 | 32,585 |
| LACROSSE | +1.21% | 4,508 | 4,454 | -14.81% | 28,669 | 33,654 |
| REGAL | -23.20% | 1,450 | 1,888 | -19.82% | 12,378 | 15,437 |
| VERANO | -48.42% | 2,648 | 5,134 | -25.61% | 22,625 | 30,414 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +0.62% | 22,281 | 22,143 | -2.55% | 149,386 | 153,298 |
Sales Results - August 2015 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | AUG 2015 / AUG 2014 | AUGUST 2015 | AUGUST 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | +10.15% | 9,050 | 8,216 | +19.65% | 68,776 | 57,481 |
| CANYON | * | 2,423 | 0 | +401,780.00% | 20,094 | 5 |
| SAVANA | -61.31% | 744 | 1,923 | -28.10% | 15,664 | 21,785 |
| SIERRA | +7.02% | 21,241 | 19,847 | +8.71% | 141,899 | 130,526 |
| TERRAIN | -4.58% | 9,237 | 9,680 | +1.86% | 72,460 | 71,134 |
| YUKON | -4.71% | 4,493 | 4,715 | -5.14% | 26,048 | 27,458 |
| YUKON XL | -34.47% | 2,175 | 3,319 | -9.37% | 17,912 | 19,763 |
| GMC TOTAL | +3.49% | 49,363 | 47,700 | +10.57% | 362,853 | 328,152 |
Sales Results - August 2015 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | AUG 2015 / AUG 2014 | AUGUST 2015 | AUGUST 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -1.52% | 183,098 | 185,930 | +2.63% | 1,425,507 | 1,388,993 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -5.48% | 15,738 | 16,650 | -2.82% | 110,791 | 114,008 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +0.62% | 22,281 | 22,143 | -2.55% | 149,386 | 153,298 |
| GMC TOTAL | +3.49% | 49,363 | 47,700 | +10.57% | 362,853 | 328,152 |
| GM USA TOTAL | -0.71% | 270,480 | 272,423 | +3.23% | 2,048,537 | 1,984,451 |
About The Charts
- 26 selling days for August 2015, and 27 for August 2014.
- Totals contain discontinued models, including Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT.
Comments
What no one making excuses for Cadillac? Their retail sales were down over same month last year and year to date, while almost every competitive luxury make had substantial increases. Acura will shortly pass Cadillac in sales and wow even Lincoln was up.
Things are so bad that you can’t even configure a 2016 ATS even though are a number of them on the lots in the Pittsburgh area. I guess the feeling is hide the 16s until you get rid of the 150 days of 15s in stock. Incentives have already been bumped up to $3K and I doubt that is going to clear them out. Why do you continue to crank out a vehicle you can’t sell especially when you are making substantial changes in the drivetrain the following year?
For the love of stupidity, Martin… Cadillac is going through some major transitions right now. Can you enable a more long-term point of view in your seemingly very short-sighted mind?
As for this:
“Why do you continue to crank out a vehicle you can’t sell especially when you are making substantial changes in the drivetrain the following year?”
Cranking what out? 15s are no longer in production.