Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac dealers in the United States delivered 290,230 new vehicles in December 2015, a 5.7 percent increase compared to December 2014. Sales of all four GM’s U.S. brands — Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC — were up.
“The momentum that the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have carried all year, hits like the Chevrolet Trax and Colorado, and innovative designs like the GMC Canyon and Buick Encore, have had a tremendous positive impact on our sales results,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “In a record year for the industry, GM gained significant retail market share and we grew our Commercial business by 12 percent.”
Contributing to the increase are positive economic indicators, which GM expects to return in 2016.
“The U.S. economy continues to expand and the most important factors that drive demand for new vehicles are in place, so we expect to see a second consecutive year of record industry sales in 2016,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “The single most important pieces are the ongoing gains in employment and the growth in personal income. When you add in lower energy prices, it’s easy to see why consumer spending is strong.”
December 2015 notes (vs. December 2014, except as noted):
- General Motors sales overview:
- Sales types:
- Total sales grew 5.7 percent to 290,230 units
- Total retail sales grew 8.2 percent to 241,724 units, representing 83 percent of total sales
- GM’s retail deliveries have grown every month since March 2015, driven by strong crossover and truck sales
- Retail market share for 2015 is estimated to be up 0.4 percentage points, the largest increase of any automaker, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.
- Fleet sales accounted for 16.7 percent of total sales, down 1.9 percent
- 26th consecutive month of Commercial sales growth
- Inventory units at month-end was 630,950 for a 61 days supply (selling day adjusted)
- Average Transaction Prices (ATP), based on J.D. Power PIN:
- GM’s average transaction prices (ATPs) were a record $37,000 in December, up $1,150 year over year.
- GM’s full-year ATPs were a record $34,500, up $630 year over year.
- In December, GM’s incentive spending was 10.7 percent of ATP, down 0.1 percentage point year over year. Industry average spending was 10.7 percent of ATP, up 0.4 percentage points.
- GM’s full-year incentive spending was 11.2 percent of ATP, up 0.3 percentage points. Industry average spending was 10.5 percent, up 0.5 percentage points.
- The seasonally-adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was an estimated 17.8 million units in December.
- Light vehicle volumes for 2015 are projected to be a record 17.5 million units, surpassing the year 2000, when 17.4 million vehicles were delivered.
- Light vehicle Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) is estimated at 17.8 million for the month, and 17.5 million for calendar year 2015
- Fleet and Commercial:
- During December, deliveries to Commercial customers were up 2 percent and government deliveries were up 8 percent. Deliveries to rental customers declined 14 percent, or 3,300 units, per plan.
- In 2015, Commercial deliveries were up 12 percent and government deliveries were up 2 percent. Rental deliveries were down 11 percent, or nearly 50,000 units, per plan. In the last two years, GM has grown its Commercial business by 38 percent to approximately 213,000 units.
- GM expects another significant reduction in rental deliveries during 2016.
- Trucks:
- Combined, Chevrolet and GMC sold 1.2 million trucks in 2015, up 14 percent compared to 2014. This includes 939,198 pickups.
- GM’s retail share of the full-size pickup segment improved by more than one percentage point to 39.2 percent, according to PIN.
- GM’s retail share of the mid-size pickup segment is now 32.5 percent, up from less than 5 percent in 2014, the launch year for the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
- Crossovers:
- In the crossover market, the Chevrolet Equinox has increased its sales for seven consecutive years.
- Five other crossovers, the Chevrolet Traverse, the Buick Encore, the GMC Acadia and Terrain, and the Cadillac SRX had their best-ever annual sales.
- Sales types:
- Chevrolet sales were up 2.09 percent to 188,794 units for its best December sales result since 2006, and its highest retail sales result since 2005:
- Chevy has increased its retail sales every month since March 2015; the brand’s 2015 retail market share is up 0.4 percentage points compared to 2014, according to PIN estimates – the largest increase of any full-line brand
- Chevy crossover deliveries were up 20 percent, the 13th consecutive mothy year-over-year increase:
- Chevy Trax sales jumped 620 percent to 5,323 units
- Chevy Equinox sales were up 2.48 percent to 21,827 units
- Chevy Traverse sales were up 5.65 percent to 9,143 units
- Chevy Truck deliveries were up 10 percent:
- Chevy Colorado sales were up 95.91 percent to 7,909 units
- Chevy Silverado sales were up 8.91 percent to 62,992 units, its best December since 2005
- Chevy Tahoe sales were down 13.2 percent to 9,773 units; Tahoe retail deliveries were up 25 percent
- Chevy Suburban sales were down 6.08 percent to 6,350 units; Suburban retail deliveries were up 24 percent
- Chevy City Express sales were up 115 percent to 1,088 units
- Chevy Express sales were up 31.19 percent to 7,361 units
- Chevy Sonic sales were up 33.67 percent to 7,293 units
- Chevy SS Sedan sales were up 44.09 percent to 134 units
- Chevy Volt sales were up 41.88 percent to 2,114 units
- Volt retail deliveries, wee are nearly all 2016 models, were up 41 percent
- Volt retail days’ supply is only 10 days
- Chevy Camaro sales were down 19.04 percent to 5,366 units; the all-new 2016 Camaro began to arrive at dealers and begin deliveries in December
- Chevy Caprice sales were down 23.61 percent to 220 units
- Chevy Corvette sales were down 30.94 percent to 2,453 units
- Chevy Cruze sales were down 5.34 percent to 16,849 units; Cruze retail deliveries were up 20 percent for a December sales record
- Chevy Impala sales were down 30.78 percent to 9,060 units
- Chevy Malibu sales were down 27.72 percent; the launch of the all-new 2016 Malibu is now underway
- Chevy Spark sales were down 53.97 percent to 1,384 units, made up of:
- 1,340 deliveries of the first-generation Spark, and
- 44 deliveries of the all-new, 2016 Spark, which represents the second generation of the vehicle
- Cadillac sales were up 28.71 percent to 20,787 units, its best December sales since 2007:
- Cadillac ATS sales were up 40 percent to 3,451 units
- Cadillac CTS sales were down 7.96 percent to 2,441 units
- Cadillac ELR sales were up 14.41 percent
- Cadillac Escalade sales were up 20.25 percent to 2,743 units and Cadillac Escalade ESV sales were up 31.32 percent to 1,916 units
- Cadillac SRX sales were up 43.52 percent to 7,031 units
- Cadillac XTS sales were up 34.89 percent to 3,070 units
- Buick sales were up 1.72 percent to 20,708 units, its best December retail sales since 2005:
- Buick Enclave sales were down 19.71 percent to 5,936 units
- Buick Encore sales were up 109 percent to 6,498 units
- Buick LaCrosse sales were up 37.27 percent to 3,158 units; the all-new, 2017 Buick LaCrosse will launch later this year
- Buick Regal sales were up 41.97 percent to 2,571 units
- Buick Verano sales were down 15.64 percent to 2,454 units
- GMC sales were up 13.02 percent to 59,941 units, gaining 0.2 percentage points of retail market share:
- GMC Acadia sales were down 0.78 percent to 7,266 units
- GMC Canyon sales were up 95.69 percent to 3,000 units
- GMC Savana sales were up 61.22 percent to 2,781 units
- GMC Sierra sales were up 17.08 percent to 27,438 units
- GMC Terrain sales were down 12.54 percent to 9,649 units
- GMC Yukon sales were up 11.46 percent to 5,271 units and GMC Yukon XL sales were up 39.14 percent to 4,536 units
Sales Results - December 2015 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | DEC 2015 / DEC 2014 | DECEMBER 2015 | DECEMBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMARO | -19.04% | 5,366 | 6,628 | -10.19% | 77,502 | 86,297 |
| CAPRICE | -23.61% | 220 | 288 | -50.50% | 1,845 | 3,727 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | -100.00% | 0 | 15 | -99.84% | 55 | 35,368 |
| CITY EXPRESS | +115.02% | 1,088 | 506 | +1,840.19% | 10,283 | 530 |
| COLORADO | +95.91% | 7,909 | 4,037 | +954.98% | 84,430 | 8,003 |
| CORVETTE | -30.94% | 2,453 | 3,552 | -4.33% | 33,329 | 34,839 |
| CRUZE | -5.34% | 16,849 | 17,800 | -17.01% | 226,602 | 273,060 |
| EQUINOX | +2.48% | 21,827 | 21,298 | +14.59% | 277,589 | 242,242 |
| EXPRESS | +31.19% | 7,361 | 5,611 | -20.13% | 63,382 | 79,352 |
| IMPALA | -30.78% | 9,060 | 13,088 | -16.72% | 116,825 | 140,280 |
| MALIBU | -27.72% | 12,155 | 16,817 | +3.36% | 194,854 | 188,519 |
| SILVERADO | +8.91% | 62,992 | 57,837 | +13.36% | 600,544 | 529,755 |
| SONIC | +33.67% | 7,293 | 5,456 | -30.74% | 64,775 | 93,518 |
| SPARK | -53.97% | 1,384 | 3,007 | -16.10% | 32,853 | 39,159 |
| SS | +44.09% | 134 | 93 | +16.78% | 2,895 | 2,479 |
| SUBURBAN | -6.08% | 6,350 | 6,761 | -7.53% | 50,866 | 55,009 |
| TAHOE | -13.20% | 9,773 | 11,259 | -9.60% | 88,342 | 97,726 |
| TRAVERSE | +5.65% | 9,143 | 8,654 | +15.39% | 119,945 | 103,943 |
| TRAX | +620.30% | 5,323 | 739 | +8,429.09% | 63,030 | 739 |
| VOLT | +41.88% | 2,114 | 1,490 | -18.14% | 15,393 | 18,805 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +2.09% | 188,794 | 184,938 | +4.52% | 2,125,347 | 2,033,442 |
Sales Results - December 2015 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | DEC 2015 / DEC 2014 | DECEMBER 2015 | DECEMBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | +40.00% | 3,451 | 2,465 | -10.09% | 26,873 | 29,890 |
| CTS | -7.96% | 2,441 | 2,652 | -37.38% | 19,485 | 31,115 |
| ELR | +14.41% | 135 | 118 | -21.83% | 1,024 | 1,310 |
| ESCALADE | +20.25% | 2,743 | 2,281 | +8.97% | 21,230 | 19,482 |
| ESCALADE ESV | +31.32% | 1,916 | 1,459 | +33.71% | 14,691 | 10,987 |
| SRX | +43.52% | 7,031 | 4,899 | +28.50% | 68,850 | 53,578 |
| XTS | +34.89% | 3,070 | 2,276 | -5.03% | 23,112 | 24,335 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +28.71% | 20,787 | 16,150 | +2.65% | 175,267 | 170,750 |
Sales Results - December 2015 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | DEC 2015 / DEC 2014 | DECEMBER 2015 | DECEMBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENCLAVE | -19.71% | 5,936 | 7,393 | -0.35% | 62,081 | 62,300 |
| ENCORE | +109.48% | 6,498 | 3,102 | +38.16% | 67,549 | 48,892 |
| LACROSSE | -37.27% | 3,158 | 5,034 | -18.33% | 42,035 | 51,468 |
| REGAL | +41.97% | 2,571 | 1,811 | -13.55% | 19,504 | 22,560 |
| VERANO | -15.64% | 2,545 | 3,017 | -27.11% | 31,886 | 43,743 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +1.72% | 20,708 | 20,357 | -2.58% | 223,055 | 228,963 |
Sales Results - December 2015 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | DEC 2015 / DEC 2014 | DECEMBER 2015 | DECEMBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | -0.78% | 7,266 | 7,323 | +14.79% | 96,393 | 83,972 |
| CANYON | +95.69% | 3,000 | 1,533 | +879.71% | 30,077 | 3,070 |
| SAVANA | +61.22% | 2,781 | 1,725 | -17.45% | 21,992 | 26,641 |
| SIERRA | +17.08% | 27,438 | 23,436 | +5.81% | 224,139 | 211,833 |
| TERRAIN | -12.54% | 9,649 | 11,032 | +6.68% | 112,030 | 105,016 |
| YUKON | +11.46% | 5,271 | 4,729 | +2.80% | 42,732 | 41,569 |
| YUKON XL | +39.14% | 4,536 | 3,260 | +5.32% | 31,334 | 29,752 |
| GMC TOTAL | +13.02% | 59,941 | 53,038 | +11.33% | 558,697 | 501,853 |
Sales Results - December 2015 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | DEC 2015 / DEC 2014 | DECEMBER 2015 | DECEMBER 2014 | YTD 2015 / YTD 2014 | YTD 2015 | YTD 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +2.09% | 188,794 | 184,938 | +4.52% | 2,125,347 | 2,033,442 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +28.71% | 20,787 | 16,150 | +2.65% | 175,267 | 170,750 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +1.72% | 20,708 | 20,357 | -2.58% | 223,055 | 228,963 |
| GMC TOTAL | +13.02% | 59,941 | 53,038 | +11.33% | 558,697 | 501,853 |
| GM USA TOTAL | +5.74% | 290,230 | 274,483 | +5.02% | 3,082,366 | 2,935,008 |
About The Numbers
- 28 selling days for December 2015 and 26 for December 2014
- Totals contain discontinued models, including Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT
Comments
Surprisingly good results for Cadillac (up 28.7%) and especially ATS (up 40%).
No doubt some attractive lease offers helped to close out the year very strong and end up with a positive year over year total.
2016 will be an even stronger with the SRX replacement (XT5) and CT6 bowing.
Read in WSJ last couple that Cadillac fleet sales increased from 5% in 2014 to 8% thru November. This apparently helped too. Chevy and Buick fleet sales have both gone down.
I read similarly but that still doesn’t account for the near 29% jump in volume.
Comment meant for yearly results where that difference is meaningful. Without those additional fleet sales, yearly results would have been worse.
Red – other than the Encore, Buick’s most popular color for all models in 2015.
Respect for GMC, though. GM’s second-biggest seller by a long shot, with good margins.
I look for these numbers to only increase for 2016 esp with the 2.8 L Duramax Diesel in the Colorado/Canyon, new Volt, Malibu and Lacrosse. Not to mention the updated Acadia/Equinox and HD Trucks.
The new Camaro just dropped as well as the new BU so Chevy should have some really good months ahead.
The new Malibu, Cruze, Camaro and Spark should mean a good car year for Chevy.
The good press will serve as a excellent into for 2017s new SUV line up.
By 2018, we will see an entirely new Chevrolet with products strong enough to remove the damaged brand stigma cultivated over the last 30 years.
2018 maybe a little optimistic. Also even though I expect a lot from Malibu, Cruze and Camaro the Spark is still going to be a tough sell due to the low gas prices. Fuel sippers are out of fashion right now.
How long does it take to change that
As soon as gas prices go over $3.00 per gallon people will flock back to vehicles that get good fuel economy.