Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac dealers in the United States delivered 252,128 new vehicles in March 2016, a 0.9 percent increase compared to March 2015. Sales of GMC and Chevrolet were up, while those of Buick and Cadillac were down. The increase comes despite a significant reduction in sales to daily rental fleets.
The results represent 193,524 deliveries to individual or “retail” customers, an uptick of 6 percent year-over-year. The retail sales growth was driven by a 7 percent increase at Chevrolet and a 13 percent increase at GMC. The strong performance of these two brands has helped GM grow retail deliveries every month since April 2015.
“The strong retail and Commercial sales GM has been delivering are the result of a multi-year strategy to strengthen our brands, attract new customers and grow profitably,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We are growing retail sales faster than the industry, and we are doing it with disciplined incentives and inventories, and lower rental deliveries. Our business is very healthy, and we are going to manage it with conviction to keep it that way.”
March 2016 notes (vs. March 2015, except as noted):
General Motors sales overview:
- Sales types:
- Overall sales volume increased 0.9 percent to 252,128 units
- Retail sales increased 5.9 percent to 193,524 units, or 76.8 percent of total sales
- Fleet segment sales decreased 3.6 percent to 58,604 units, or 23.2 percent of total sales
- Daily rental mix of total sales was 11 percent, down 33 percent
- GM’s focus on higher margin retail and commercial sales is enabled by strategic reductions in deliveries to daily rental fleets, which will continue through 2016
- Commercial sales increased 13 percent
- Government sales increased 55 percent
- Overall sales volume increased 0.9 percent to 252,128 units
- Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) based on J.D. Power PIN estimates:
- ATPs, which reflect transaction prices after incentives, were approximately $35,800 in March, up more than $1,500 from February and about $5,000 above industry average
- GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 10 percent, well below domestic competitors.
- Industry average spending in March was 10.8 percent.
- GM continues to grow retail market share with incentives below domestic companies and other key competitors
- New or future GM product includes:
- 2017 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact hatchback and sedan
- 2016 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan
- 2016 Chevrolet Volt compact plug-in extended-range electric vehicle
- 2016 Chevrolet Camaro sports car
- 2016 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan
- 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE package
- 2017 Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover
- 2016 Buick Cascada compact convertible
- 2016 Buick Envision compact crossover
- 2017 Buick LaCrosse full-size luxury sedan
- 2017 GMC Acadia midsize crossover
- 2016 Cadillac CT6 full-size prestige luxury sedan
- 2017 Cadillac XT5 crossover
- March month-end inventory was 663,632 units for a 71 days supply, an increase from the 640,722 units and 67 days supply at the end of February 2016
- GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in March was 17.1 million units. Through the first quarter, GM estimates the light vehicle SAAR was 17.4 million units.
Chevrolet sales increased 1.38 percent to 176,283 units:
- Chevrolet retail sales increased 6.8 percent to 125,920 units
- Chevy crossover sales:
- Chevy Trax sales increased 28.34 percent to 5,167 units
- Chevy Equinox sales decreased 11.73 percent to 21,480 units
- Chevy Traverse sales decreased 3.21 percent to 10,747 units
- Chevy Truck sales:
- Chevy Colorado sales increased 46.78 percent to 9,718 units
- Chevy Silverado sales increased 6.14 percent to 47,966 units
- Chevy Tahoe sales increased 11.63 percent to 7,658 units
- Chevy Suburban sales increased 15.56 percent to 3,825 units
- Chevy City Express sales increased 73.33 percent to 1,170 units
- Chevy Express sales increased 69.61 percent to 6,291 units
- Chevy Car sales:
- Chevy Spark sales decreased 30.28 percent to 2,273 units
- Chevy Sonic sales increased 3.8 percent to 4,708 units
- Chevy Cruze sales decreased 58.13 percent to 9,881 units
- Chevy Volt sales increased 191.86 percent to 1,865 units
- Chevy Malibu sales increased 33.26 percent to 22,058 units
- Chevy Impala sales increased 28.22 percent 11,465 units
- Chevy SS Sedan sales increased 8.33 percent to 286 units
- Chevy Caprice sales decreased 38.41 percent to 93 units
- Chevy Camaro sales increased 15.5 percent to 6,879 units
- Chevy Corvette sales decreased 27.27 percent to 2,753 units
Cadillac sales decreased 5.11 percent to 13,053 units:
- Cadillac retail sales decreased 6.5 percent to 11,514 units
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 8.83 percent to 1,859 units
- Cadillac CTS sales decreased 0.07 percent to 1,499 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales totaled 35 units in its first partial month of sales
- Cadillac ELR sales increased 13.04 percent to 104 units
- Cadillac Escalade sales increased 17.99 percent to 1,974 units and Cadillac Escalade ESV sales increased 16.5 percent to 1,264 units
- Cadillac SRX sales decreased 18.58 percent to 4,071 units ahead of the arrival of its replacement — the 2017 Cadillac XT5
- Cadillac XTS sales decreased 5.07 percent to 2,247 units
Buick sales decreased 11.3 percent to 18,207 units:
- Buick retail sales decreased 5.6 percent to 15,772 units
- Buick Cascada sales totaled 814 units during its first full month on the market
- Buick Enclave sales decreased 9.99 percent to 5,116 units
- Buick Encore sales increased 13.73 percent to 6,426 units
- Buick LaCrosse sales decreased 48.59 percent to 2,275 units. The all-new, 2017 Buick LaCrosse will launch later this year.
- Buick Regal sales decreased 32.88 percent to 1,276 units
- Buick Verano sales decreased 19.75 percent to 2,300 units
GMC sales increased 6.9 percent to 44,585 units:
- GMC retail sales increased 12.8 percent to 40,318 units
- GMC Acadia sales decreased 16.14 percent to 6,214 units
- GMC Canyon sales increased 17.79 percent to 2,867 units
- GMC Savana sales decreased 30.89 percent to 1,244 units
- GMC Sierra sales increased 23.87 percent to 21,548 units
- GMC Terrain sales decreased 14.18 percent to 6,891 units
- GMC Yukon sales increased 27.55 percent to 3,394 units and GMC Yukon XL sales were up 22.76 percent to 2,427 units
Sales Results - March 2016 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | MAR 2016 / MAR 2015 | MARCH 2016 | MARCH 2015 | YTD 2016 / YTD 2015 | YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMARO | +15.50% | 6,879 | 5,956 | +7.28% | 18,581 | 17,320 |
| CAPRICE | -38.41% | 93 | 151 | -50.40% | 185 | 373 |
| CITY EXPRESS | +73.33% | 1,170 | 675 | +40.16% | 2,614 | 1,865 |
| COLORADO | +46.78% | 9,718 | 6,621 | +18.27% | 22,620 | 19,126 |
| CORVETTE | -27.27% | 2,753 | 3,785 | -25.21% | 6,370 | 8,517 |
| CRUZE | -58.13% | 9,881 | 23,598 | -38.54% | 37,241 | 60,592 |
| EQUINOX | -11.73% | 21,480 | 24,335 | -8.74% | 59,879 | 65,613 |
| EXPRESS | +69.61% | 6,291 | 3,709 | +28.56% | 13,515 | 10,513 |
| IMPALA | +28.22% | 11,465 | 8,942 | +12.24% | 30,554 | 27,221 |
| MALIBU | +33.26% | 22,058 | 16,552 | +37.31% | 58,222 | 42,401 |
| SILVERADO | +6.14% | 47,966 | 45,193 | +1.79% | 128,965 | 126,694 |
| SONIC | -3.80% | 4,708 | 4,894 | +11.60% | 12,627 | 11,315 |
| SPARK | -30.28% | 2,273 | 3,260 | -43.38% | 5,155 | 9,104 |
| SS | +8.33% | 286 | 264 | -9.26% | 539 | 594 |
| SUBURBAN | +15.56% | 3,825 | 3,310 | -10.08% | 10,679 | 11,876 |
| TAHOE | +11.63% | 7,658 | 6,860 | -2.52% | 20,351 | 20,877 |
| TRAVERSE | -3.21% | 10,747 | 11,103 | -13.05% | 26,919 | 30,959 |
| TRAX | +28.34% | 5,167 | 4,026 | +41.72% | 13,727 | 9,686 |
| VOLT | +191.86% | 1,865 | 639 | +112.75% | 3,987 | 1,874 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +1.38% | 176,283 | 173,886 | -0.80% | 472,730 | 476,556 |
Sales Results - March 2016 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | MAR 2016 / MAR 2015 | MARCH 2016 | MARCH 2015 | YTD 2016 / YTD 2015 | YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -8.83% | 1,859 | 2,039 | -22.44% | 4,517 | 5,824 |
| CT6 | * | 35 | * | * | 35 | * |
| CTS | -0.07% | 1,499 | 1,500 | -14.30% | 3,973 | 4,636 |
| ELR | +13.04% | 104 | 92 | -15.76% | 262 | 311 |
| ESCALADE | +17.99% | 1,974 | 1,673 | +4.04% | 5,021 | 4,826 |
| ESCALADE ESV | +16.50% | 1,264 | 1,085 | +0.10% | 3,076 | 3,073 |
| ESCALADE EXT | * | 0 | 0 | +400.00% | 10 | 2 |
| SRX | -18.58% | 4,071 | 5,000 | +4.65% | 12,866 | 12,294 |
| XTS | -5.07% | 2,247 | 2,367 | -5.41% | 5,873 | 6,209 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -5.11% | 13,053 | 13,756 | -4.15% | 35,633 | 37,175 |
Sales Results - March 2016 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | MAR 2016 / MAR 2015 | MARCH 2016 | MARCH 2015 | YTD 2016 / YTD 2015 | YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADA | * | 814 | * | * | 1,397 | * |
| ENCLAVE | -9.99% | 5,116 | 5,684 | +1.04% | 12,934 | 12,801 |
| ENCORE | +13.73% | 6,426 | 5,650 | +22.68% | 17,219 | 14,036 |
| LACROSSE | -48.59% | 2,275 | 4,425 | -12.00% | 8,975 | 10,199 |
| REGAL | -32.88% | 1,276 | 1,901 | +26.36% | 5,537 | 4,382 |
| VERANO | -19.75% | 2,300 | 2,866 | -9.41% | 8,225 | 9,079 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -11.30% | 18,207 | 20,526 | +7.51% | 54,287 | 50,497 |
Sales Results - March 2016 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | MAR 2016 / MAR 2015 | MARCH 2016 | MARCH 2015 | YTD 2016 / YTD 2015 | YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | -16.14% | 6,214 | 7,410 | -8.83% | 18,571 | 20,369 |
| CANYON | +17.79% | 2,867 | 2,434 | +5.94% | 7,577 | 7,152 |
| SAVANA | -30.89% | 1,244 | 1,800 | -22.01% | 4,124 | 5,288 |
| SIERRA | +23.87% | 21,548 | 17,395 | +13.19% | 51,131 | 45,173 |
| TERRAIN | -14.18% | 6,891 | 8,030 | -13.61% | 23,958 | 27,733 |
| YUKON | +27.55% | 3,394 | 2,661 | +10.84% | 8,985 | 8,106 |
| YUKON XL | +22.76% | 2,427 | 1,977 | +11.89% | 6,702 | 5,990 |
| GMC TOTAL | +6.90% | 44,585 | 41,707 | +1.03% | 121,048 | 119,811 |
Sales Results - March 2016 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | MAR 2016 / MAR 2015 | MARCH 2016 | MARCH 2015 | YTD 2016 / YTD 2015 | YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +1.38% | 176,283 | 173,886 | -0.80% | 472,730 | 476,556 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -5.11% | 13,053 | 13,756 | -4.15% | 35,633 | 37,175 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -11.30% | 18,207 | 20,526 | +7.51% | 54,287 | 50,497 |
| GMC TOTAL | +6.90% | 44,585 | 41,707 | +1.03% | 121,048 | 119,811 |
| GM USA TOTAL | +0.90% | 252,128 | 249,875 | -0.05% | 683,698 | 684,039 |
About The Numbers
- There were 27 selling days in March 2016 and 25 selling days in March 2015
- Cadillac totals include discontinued Cadillac EXT
Comments
Some bright spots but overall disappointing results.
Retail sales continue to do well. Particularly impressed with Malibu’s sales surge due to the new gen model. Colorado and Sierra also had a strong month as well as others.
Not when you consider the cut backs for rental fleets.
Fair enough.
Cadillac sedans are poor sellers…need crossovers now.
Thank you, Captain Obvious!
Lotta red in that “hugely successful” Buick column.
(“Hugely successful” being part of Sean’s article earlier this week.)
Just asking – are these weighted numbers? When the big sellers like Cruze and Equinox and LaCrosse are down significantly?
But the trucks are still doing well – and the Encore, and the new Volt. And you have to suspect the Enspire will do well.
So, time will tell.
Given the age of the Buick lineup AND the reductions in fleet sales, the figures are actually pretty successful.
And the numbers are simple averages. Not sure what you mean by weighted, they all carry the same “weight” by volume.
Sorry, I didn’t know you were making an early April Fool’s joke! ?
I don’t disagree with you, although there is a difference between “pretty successful” and “hugely successful,” yes?
Saw an interesting thing on NCAA tourney “brand buzz” on five different, younger skewing indicies.
The leaders were, so far, Reese’s, Amazon, Lexus (?) … Few car brands, and no Buick mention listed anywhere. So if their intent is to skew younger, time for more snapchat and Instagram and Twitter.
That ‘official sponsor’ thing comes with all sorts of constraints. I remember Nike hijacking the World Cup a few years ago – didn’t pay any WC fees, and had a lot more freedom.
Oh well – maybe Buick comes on strong in the Final Four. And we’ll see less red @ the end of April.
I wouldn’t read too much into the Cruze being down… the old bodystyle “Limited” went out of production in December, and the new models are just starting to trickle into dealers. It’s just a matter of there not being enough supply. New and better versions of the Equinox and LaCrosse are on the horizon too.
It is great new that the Malibu has increased sales twice in two months, and has displaced the Equinox as Chevy second best seller. I hope the new Malibu Hybrid gets plenty of sales when it is launched, and become the next hybrid after the Volt.