General Motors U.S. Sales Up 15.9 Percent To 262,993 Units In October 2015
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Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac dealers in the United States delivered 262,993 new vehicles in October 2015, a 15.9 percent increase compared to October 2014 — outpacing the industry. Sales of Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC posted double-digit increases, while those of Buick were down slightly.
“The redesign of our full-size trucks and SUVs, and our move into the small crossover and mid-size pickup segments were smart bets and our timing couldn’t be better with industry sales at record levels,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “Customers are also embracing our Shop-Click-Drive online shopping program, where the price you see is the price you pay. We see more growth ahead because it’s simple and transparent.”
October 2015 highlights (vs. October 2014, except as noted):
- General Motors:
- Sales types:
- Total sales grew 15.9 percent
- Retail sales — those to individual customers — climbed 16 percent, outpacing a very strong industry. Retail market share has now climbed for seven consecutive months compared to 2014.
- Commercial deliveries in October were up year-over-year for the 24th consecutive monthly gain
- Total fleet sales were up 16 percent
- GM’s strong results helped the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles reach an estimated 18.2 million units in October. The six-month moving average for the SAAR is now internally estimated to be 17.8 million units, on track to establish a calendar year record.
- Average Transaction Prices (ATPs), based on J.D. Power PIN estimates:
- October ATPs were $34,600, down about $130 year over year. Calendar year-to-date, ATPs were up about $800.
- Incentive spending was 12.7 percent of ATP, up 0.9 percentage points from September 2015, reflecting PIN’s estimate of GM’s model-year-end incentive activity. Calendar year to date, spending is up 0.4 percentage points. Notably, GM’s incentive spending on full-size pickups declined both month over month and year over year by about $200 per unit.
- Fleet and Commercial:
- Fleet sales in the month were strong due to rental customer demand.
- Calendar year-to-date rental deliveries are down about 10 percent.
- Calendar year-to-date, commercial deliveries are up 14 percent and deliveries to state and local government customers are up 17 percent.
- Sales types:
- Chevrolet was up 17.6 percent to 183,464 units, its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales and share gains best October sales performance since 2004:
- Total sales were up 18 percent and retail sales were up 20 percent
- Trucks were up 13 percent, the 19th consecutive monthly increase, cars were up 6 percent for their best October result since 2004, and crossovers were up 58 percent, the 11th consecutive monthly increase
- Total Malibu sales were up 122.1 percent to 24,725 units, the highest for any October since 1996. Retail sales were up 19 percent.
- Total Equinox deliveries were up 25 percent to 22,086 units for the vehicle’s best October ever. Retail sales were up 30 percent.
- Total Traverse sales were up 16 percent to 9,155 units. Retail sales were up 21 percent for the model’s best-ever October retail sales month.
- Trax accounted for 8,175 sales
- The Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado had their best October sales since 2006
- Total Silverado deliveries were up 10 percent to 51,647 units. Retail sales were up 14 percent, growing year-over-year for 15 consecutive months.
- Total Colorado sales were up 373.4 percent to 7,059 units sold, continuing to be the industry’s fastest-selling pickup with a days-to-turn rate of 24 days.
- Total Tahoe sales were down 16.3 percent to 6,624 units, but retail sales were up 17 percent
- Total Suburban sales were down 22.3 percent to 3,585 units, but retail sales were up 25 percent
- Despite being at the end of its lifecycle, the fifth-generation Camaro recorded 5,289 sales — down only 2.2 percent
- Corvette was down 14.6 percent to 2,526 units
- The compact City Express accounted for 958 sales while the full-size Express was up 15.3 percent to 6,442 units
- Impala was up 11.3 percent to 11,805 units
- The SS Sedan was up 67 percent to 192 units
- Sonic was down 37.4 percent to 3,294 units
- Spark was down 15 percent to 2,002 units
- Cruze was down 35.3 percent to 15,710 units
- Volt was up 41.4 percent to 2,035 units
- Cadillac was up 13 percent to 15,391 units:
- Escalade was up 32.2 percent and Escalade ESV was up 74.4 percent to 1,313 units
- Despite being at the end of its lifecycle and being replaced by the all-new XT5, the SRX was up 65.4 percent to 6,020 units
- XTS was up a 3.4 percent to 2,043 units
- ATS was down 3.1 percent to 2,528 units
- CTS was down 49.4 percent to 1,567 units
- ELR was down 46.1 percent to 82 units
- GMC was up 18 percent to 45,478 units, its best October results since 2003:
- Acadia was up 8.8 percent to 6,928 units
- Canyon was up 262.1 percent to 2,415 units
- Savana was up 36.2 percent to 1,380 units
- Sierra was down a slight 0.2 percent to 18,521 units
- Terrain was up 46.8 percent to 9,987 units, its best October ever
- Yukon was up 18.4 percent to 3,525 units while the Yukon XL was up 26.7 percent to 2,722 units
- Denali models accounted for more than one-quarter of all GMC sales, the highest ever
- Buick was down a slight 0.2 percent to 18,660 units, while posting its best retail deliveries since 2003:
- Enclave was down 0.5 percent to 4,702 units
- Encore was up 38.8 percent to 6,633 units, marking its 22nd consecutive year-over-year sales increase. Retail deliveries were up 60 percent.
- LaCrosse was down 26.9 percent to 2,977 units
- Total regal sales were down 19.5 percent to 1,655 units, but retail deliveries were up 49 percent
- Verano was down 12.1 percent to 2,693 units
Sales Results - October 2015 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | OCT 2015 / OCT 2014 | OCTOBER 2015 | OCTOBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMARO | -2.16% | 5,289 | 5,406 | -11.23% | 66,833 | 75,284 |
| CAPRICE | -48.50% | 155 | 301 | -54.65% | 1,429 | 3,151 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | -100.00% | 0 | 32 | -99.84% | 55 | 35,275 |
| CITY EXPRESS | * | 958 | * | * | 8,362 | * |
| COLORADO | +373.44% | 7,059 | 1,491 | +4,293.19% | 70,291 | 1,600 |
| CORVETTE | -14.63% | 2,526 | 2,959 | +0.05% | 28,924 | 28,909 |
| CRUZE | -35.32% | 15,710 | 24,289 | -16.66% | 193,680 | 232,403 |
| EQUINOX | +25.47% | 22,086 | 17,603 | +16.66% | 236,128 | 202,408 |
| EXPRESS | +15.28% | 6,442 | 5,588 | -26.87% | 50,650 | 69,263 |
| IMPALA | +11.29% | 11,805 | 10,607 | -17.41% | 97,271 | 117,769 |
| MALIBU | +122.13% | 24,725 | 11,131 | +7.63% | 171,886 | 159,705 |
| SILVERADO | +9.97% | 51,647 | 46,966 | +14.78% | 492,551 | 429,119 |
| SONIC | -37.41% | 3,294 | 5,263 | -35.31% | 53,829 | 83,210 |
| SPARK | -14.95% | 2,002 | 2,354 | -10.36% | 29,841 | 33,291 |
| SS | +66.96% | 192 | 115 | +14.56% | 2,613 | 2,281 |
| SUBURBAN | -22.32% | 3,585 | 4,615 | -9.03% | 39,300 | 43,203 |
| TAHOE | -16.28% | 6,624 | 7,912 | -9.04% | 71,352 | 78,440 |
| TRAVERSE | +15.99% | 9,155 | 7,893 | +16.77% | 102,118 | 87,453 |
| TRAX | * | 8,175 | * | * | 51,226 | * |
| VOLT | +41.42% | 2,035 | 1,439 | -29.29% | 11,299 | 15,979 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +17.63% | 183,464 | 155,965 | +4.76% | 1,779,646 | 1,698,831 |
Sales Results - October 2015 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | OCT 2015 / OCT 2014 | OCTOBER 2015 | OCTOBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -3.07% | 2,528 | 2,608 | -15.02% | 21,367 | 25,143 |
| CTS | -49.39% | 1,567 | 3,096 | -39.19% | 15,820 | 26,017 |
| ELR | -46.05% | 82 | 152 | -20.73% | 822 | 1,037 |
| ESCALADE | +32.23% | 1,838 | 1,390 | +11.39% | 16,815 | 15,095 |
| ESCALADE ESV | +74.37% | 1,313 | 753 | +36.50% | 11,466 | 8,400 |
| SRX | +65.38% | 6,020 | 3,640 | +25.10% | 56,732 | 45,348 |
| XTS | +3.39% | 2,043 | 1,976 | -11.28% | 18,066 | 20,362 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +13.04% | 15,391 | 13,615 | -0.26% | 141,090 | 141,452 |
Sales Results - October 2015 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | OCT 2015 / OCT 2014 | OCTOBER 2015 | OCTOBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENCLAVE | -0.53% | 4,702 | 4,727 | +1.66% | 51,487 | 50,648 |
| ENCORE | +38.77% | 6,633 | 4,780 | +35.68% | 55,918 | 41,213 |
| LACROSSE | -26.87% | 2,977 | 4,071 | -14.09% | 35,526 | 41,351 |
| REGAL | -19.54% | 1,655 | 2,057 | -16.43% | 15,761 | 18,860 |
| VERANO | -12.11% | 2,693 | 3,064 | -25.93% | 27,695 | 37,391 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -0.21% | 18,660 | 18,699 | -1.62% | 186,387 | 189,463 |
Sales Results - October 2015 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | OCT 2015 / OCT 2014 | OCTOBER 2015 | OCTOBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | +8.79% | 6,928 | 6,368 | +17.24% | 82,351 | 70,241 |
| CANYON | +262.07% | 2,415 | 667 | +3,537.04% | 24,841 | 683 |
| SAVANA | +36.23% | 1,380 | 1,013 | -26.56% | 17,772 | 24,200 |
| SIERRA | -0.23% | 18,521 | 18,564 | +8.63% | 180,174 | 165,853 |
| TERRAIN | +46.80% | 9,987 | 6,803 | +8.27% | 93,382 | 86,247 |
| YUKON | +18.41% | 3,525 | 2,977 | -0.37% | 33,536 | 33,661 |
| YUKON XL | +26.72% | 2,722 | 2,148 | -1.72% | 23,661 | 24,076 |
| GMC TOTAL | +18.00% | 45,478 | 38,540 | +12.53% | 455,717 | 404,961 |
Sales Results - October 2015 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | OCT 2015 / OCT 2014 | OCTOBER 2015 | OCTOBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +17.63% | 183,464 | 155,965 | +4.76% | 1,779,646 | 1,698,831 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +13.04% | 15,391 | 13,615 | -0.26% | 141,090 | 141,452 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -0.21% | 18,660 | 18,699 | -1.62% | 186,387 | 189,463 |
| GMC TOTAL | +18.00% | 45,478 | 38,540 | +12.53% | 455,717 | 404,961 |
| GM USA TOTAL | +15.95% | 262,993 | 226,819 | +5.26% | 2,562,840 | 2,434,707 |
About The Numbers
- 28 selling days for October 2015 and 27 for October 2014
- Totals contain discontinued models, including Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT
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Can someone explain the SRX going up so much at this point in its cycle? I assume that it has a lot of incentives/deals, as dealers want to get it off the lots before the XT5, but I’m not sure.
You explained it well yourself. Right now there are some really good deals on the SRX and they need to move them out.
CTS continues to be a disappointment. Situation will not get any better next year with CT6. To closely priced and the CT6 will cannibalize limited CTS sales that there are. Even the ancient XTS outsold the CTS this month.
Have always felt the CTS is over priced and I’m guessing public tends to agree.
You really need to stop the hand wringing on this as it will work their way out.
The CTS will see major improvements soon as it moves to the CT name. Also the CT6 once optioned with what most people will buy it will get expensive fast. We also have the V8 option and other things for it to come as the $84 is not going to be the top price for long.
Also you will find the CTS and CT6 will be a little different in nature. It is more a touring car and while it will still handle great it will lean more to the luxury side vs. the CTS that leans to the sport side.
Also note with the higher profit per unit the CTS is not hurting as bad as you may think. Yes sales should be better but you have to earn the trust of the public. Only time and continued improvement will do that.
Well said.
Scott
Wish I were privy to purchasing demographics but sadly I’m not. I’m guessing the majority of all Cadillac purchases especially in the cars are previous Cadillac owners, seriously doubting there is much conquest business. With that being said, the typical Cadillac buyer is not so discerning to care or differentiate between a touring or luxury vehicle but rather what am I getting for the money.
Can’t help believe many purchasers will look at CT6 and think he will get a lot more vehicle for not a lot more money. Still believe CT6 will hurt CTS sales.
I think all luxury car buyers are discerning to some extent.
There are always going to be value buyers, but the luxury anything market is about status. What that product says about the buyers status, wealth or position in life.
That is the one major thing lacking for Cadillac is that their prestige has not caught up to the reality of the products they are producing.
To your point, there may be a little poaching of CTS sales but the CT6 is after an entirely new market of clients.
I wish to ask if those Chevy Malibu sales are for the 2015 or 2016 model year.
2015 since 2016 is not out yet.
Although sales figures are very glossy this month, the one troubling fact is that GM’s incentive spending per vehicle is the highest among the mainstream manufacturers last month according to Autonews.
That is worrisome as Ford’s planned ‘best ever ‘ incentive push has not started yet.
They will be offering Supplier Program pricing for all in conjunction with cash discounts.
I think this is more a problem for Ford as they have more new SUV models and the newest trucks.
The Aluminum F150 has been a nightmare getting it to market and even then sales are up but not as much as they had hoped yet.
I think with GM having two new major players at Chevy coming and the CT6 and XT5 coming along with the present refreshed truck they will be able to play down the incentives. October traditionally has been truck sale month and they just appear to do it every year. While it cost them a little in profit per vehicle they often make it up in volume on the trucks.
As for Fords plans I think they are worried going into the holidays as they have not had the sales numbers they would have liked all year. While not crash and burn they were under their expectations and are trying make up ground in the slow months of Nov and Dec.
The new Chevrolet models (Malibu and Volt ) launching now are not going to factor in the incentives for the remainder of this calendar year as they still have to plop a tonne of money on the hood to move the old Malibu ‘ s. The volume of the Volt is so insignificant that it doesn’t affect the corporate average incentive spending.
The new F150 has been a hot mess this year with part shortages, production delays and a lack of widespread consumer acceptance.
Fun fact; Chevrolet/GMC lead total full sized pickup truck sales, heading into November, for the first time since 2009. By about 43000 units.
Buick?
Were it not for the Encore, they’d all be down.
I know they hold up ‘that’s not a Buick’ as a marketing success, but other than the Encore, they don’t have much that the market wants.
I guess that’s why they’re selling the brand instead of individual models.
And nothing much in the pipeline, near-term…the convertible, maybe step up the schedule importing the Chinese CUV, despite UAW protests.
Guess Chevy and GMC do the heavy lifting for now.
Chevrolet and GMC have always traditionally done the heavy lifting both in sales and profits which is unlikely to change in the near future.
The hope is that Cadillac will more of a factor in the profit department in the coming years and XT5 and CT6 will help with that sooner than later.
As for Buick they are going to hurt a little for a while.
The Cascada will help a little but not a volume player.
The new LaCrosse and Envision are at least 10 months away from market.
Enclave, Regal and Verano replacements are even further out.
So yes, the Encore is the star for now but I do not think Buick is bleeding enough money for upper management panic right now.