General Motors reported 256,224 new vehicle deliveries in March 2017 in the U.S. market, a 1.6 percent increase compared to March 2016. Sales were down at Chevrolet and Cadillac, and up at Buick and GMC.
General Motors sold 203,113 vehicles in March to individual or “retail” customers in the U.S., an increase of 5 percent from March 2016 levels. Fleet sales were down 9.4 percent on a year-over-year basis.
“The economy is strong and we see more growth ahead for our brands,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations. “More people are working, consumer confidence is at a 16-year high, fuel prices are low and Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac have a wave of new crossovers to compete in the industry’s biggest and hottest segments.”
Chevrolet, which grew retail market share in 2015 and was the industry’s fastest-growing brand in 2016, is particularly well positioned. The brand had its best March and first quarter retail sales since 2007.
“Chevrolet will have the industry’s broadest and freshest lineup of utility vehicles led by the all-new 2018 Equinox and Traverse, plus we have a unique three-truck pickup strategy and a dominant position in large SUVs,” McNeil said. “We also have a first-mover advantage in many segments. It will be years before key competitors are able to launch rivals to the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Colorado and Trax.”
In the first three months of 2017, GM U.S. sales have increased 0.9 percent to 689,521 units.
Sales Summary - March 2017 - General Motors - USA
| Sales | Sales Mix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 256,224 | 252,128 | +1.6% | +4,096 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Sale Type | March 2017 | March 2016 | March 2017 / March 2016 | March 2017 - March 2016 | March 2017 | March 2016 |
| Retail | 203,113 | 193,524 | +5% | +9,589 | 79.3% | 76.8% |
| Fleet | 53,111 | 58,604 | -9.4% | -5,493 | 20.7% | 23.2% |
GM U.S. March 2017 Sales Notes
General Motors sales overview:
Sale types:
- Total sales increased 1.6 percent to 256,224 units, with market share increasing an estimated 0.4 percentage points to 15.9 percent
- Retail sales increased 5.9 percent or 9,589 vehicles to 203,113 units, accounting for 79.3 percent of total March 2017 sales compared to 76.8 percent in March 2016:
- Chevrolet retail sales increased 6.2 percent to 133,705 units, with market share increasing an estimated 0.4 percent
- GMC retail sales decreased 3.1 percent to 39,048 units
- Buick retail sales increased 22.1 percent to 19,257 units, with market share increasing an estimated 0.3 percent
- Cadillac retail sales decreased 3.6 percent to 11,103 units
- GM’s retail market share was up 0.6 percentage points to an estimated 16.1 percent
- Fleet sales decreased 9.4 percent or 5,493 units to 53,111 units, accounting for 20.7 percent of total March 2017 sales compared to 23.2 percent in March 2016:
- Government deliveries were up 4 percent
- Commercial deliveries were up 3 percent driven by a 67 percent increase in Malibu deliveries and strong pickup and large van sales
- Daily rental sales were down 18 percent, or more than 5,100 units
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:
- As expected, incentives were down sharply from February 2017, according to J.D Power PIN estimates
- Spending as a percentage of average transaction price (ATP) declined from approximately 14.9 percent to about 13.5 percent
Inventory:
- March month-end inventory was 926,170 units for a 98-day supply, representing:
- An increase of 25,489 units from the 900,681 units at the end of February 2017
- An increase of 7 days from the 91 days supply at the end of February 2017
SAAR:
- The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was 14 million vehicles in March 2017, up 0.3 million from a year ago. The SAAR was 17.5 million units for 2017 calendar-year-to-date.
- The retail SAAR for the first quarter was 14.3 million, up 0.1 million.
Chevrolet sales decreased 2.2 percent to 172,458 units:
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales totaled 978 units
- Chevrolet Camaro sales increased 2.51 percent to 7,052 units; retail sales were up 2 percent
- Chevrolet Caprice sales decreased 72.04 percent to 26 units
- Chevrolet Colorado sales decreased 13.29 percent to 8,426 units
- Chevrolet Commercial Truck sales totaled 706 units
- Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 10.64 percent to 2,460 units
- Chevrolet Cruze sales increased 88.31 percent to 18,607 units; retail sales were up 63 percent
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 5.54 percent to 22,671 units; retail sales were up 26 percent
- Chevrolet Express sales decreased 7.5 percent to 5,819 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 22.5 percent to 8,885 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 35.52 percent to 14,222 units
- Chevrolet SS sales increased 325.52 percent to 1,217 units
- Chevrolet Silverado sales decreased 11.58 percent to 42,410 units
- Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased 28.1 percent to 3,385 units; retail sales were up 14 percent
- Chevrolet Spark sales increased 45.45 percent to 3,306 units; retail sales were up 50 percent
- The Tahoe and Suburban had their best cumulative March sales performance since 2008:
- Chevrolet Suburban sales increased 1.67 percent to 3,889 units
- Chevrolet Tahoe sales increased 18.99 percent to 9,112 units
- Chevrolet Traverse sales decreased 0.84 percent to 10,657 units; retail sales were up 24 percent
- Chevrolet Trax sales increased 25.76 percent to 6,498 units; retail sales were up 51 percent
- Chevrolet Volt sales increased 14.32 percent to 2,132 units; retail sales were up 15 percent
- Retail deliveries of Chevrolet cars was up 9 percent
Cadillac sales decreased 1.5 percent to 12,861 units:
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 26.47 percent to 1,367 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales increased 2665.71 percent to 968 units
- Cadillac CTS sales decreased 41.16 percent to 882 units
- Cadillac ELR sales decreased 98.08 percent to 2 units
- Cadillac Escalade sales decreased 16.51 percent to 1,648 units
- Cadillac Escalade ESV sales decreased 3.96 percent to 1,214 units
- Cadillac SRX sales decreased 99.61 percent to 16 units
- Cadillac XT5 sales totaled 5,280 units; retail sales were 22 percent higher than the outgoing SRX (year-over-year) and ATPs were 9 percent higher
- Cadillac XTS sales decreased 33.96 percent to 1,484 units
- At more than $54,000, Cadillac ATPs are in the upper echelon of luxury brands
Buick sales increased 15.1 percent to 20,957 units for its best total March sales performance since 2006:
- Buick Cascada sales decreased 38.82 percent to 498 units
- Buick Enclave sales decreased 26.27 percent to 3,772 units
- Buick Encore sales increased 29.05 percent to 8,293 units; retail sales were up 17 percent. The performance marks the Encore’s seventh consecutive month of increases and its best-ever March sales performance.
- Buick Envision sales totaled 3,584 units, its best-ever month since launch
- Buick LaCrosse sales increased 2.42 percent to 2,330 units; retail sales were up 60 percent
- Buick Regal sales increased 4.55 percent to 1,334 units; retail sales were up 7 percent
- Buick Verano sales decreased 50.17 percent to 1,146 units
- Buick retail sales increased 22 percent, representing their best March result since 2005
GMC sales increased 12 percent to 49,948 units:
- GMC Acadia sales increased 83.97 percent to 11,432 units
- GMC Canyon sales decreased 13.15 percent to 2,490 units
- GMC Savana sales increased 196.54 percent to 3,689 units
- GMC Sierra sales decreased 14.33 percent to 18,460 units
- GMC Terrain sales increased 13.64 percent to 7,831 units
- GMC Yukon sales decreased 5.8 percent to 3,197 units
- GMC Yukon XL sales increased 17.39 percent to 2,849 units
- GMC crossover deliveries increased 47 percent
- March was the highest-ever month for Denali models, with 29 percent of GMC retail sales
Sales Results - March 2017 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | MAR 2017 / MAR 2016 | MARCH 2017 | MARCH 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | * | 978 | * | * | 3,092 | * |
| CAMARO | +2.51% | 7,052 | 6,879 | -17.67% | 15,298 | 18,581 |
| CAPRICE | -72.04% | 26 | 93 | -40.00% | 111 | 185 |
| COLORADO | -13.29% | 8,426 | 9,718 | -1.16% | 22,358 | 22,620 |
| COMMERCIAL TRUCK | * | 706 | * | * | 1,872 | * |
| CORVETTE | -10.64% | 2,460 | 2,753 | -8.89% | 5,804 | 6,370 |
| CRUZE | +88.31% | 18,607 | 9,881 | +44.79% | 53,923 | 37,241 |
| EQUINOX | +5.54% | 22,671 | 21,480 | +4.73% | 62,709 | 59,879 |
| EXPRESS | -7.50% | 5,819 | 6,291 | +13.94% | 15,399 | 13,515 |
| IMPALA | -22.50% | 8,885 | 11,465 | -27.92% | 22,022 | 30,554 |
| MALIBU | -35.52% | 14,222 | 22,058 | -39.88% | 35,005 | 58,222 |
| SILVERADO | -11.58% | 42,410 | 47,966 | -0.39% | 128,467 | 128,965 |
| SONIC | -28.10% | 3,385 | 4,708 | -39.65% | 7,620 | 12,627 |
| SPARK | +45.45% | 3,306 | 2,273 | +38.51% | 7,140 | 5,155 |
| SS | +325.52% | 1,217 | 286 | +183.67% | 1,529 | 539 |
| SUBURBAN | +1.67% | 3,889 | 3,825 | +25.90% | 13,445 | 10,679 |
| TAHOE | +18.99% | 9,112 | 7,658 | +11.31% | 22,653 | 20,351 |
| TRAVERSE | -0.84% | 10,657 | 10,747 | +9.04% | 29,352 | 26,919 |
| TRAX | +25.76% | 6,498 | 5,167 | +33.76% | 18,361 | 13,727 |
| VOLT | +14.32% | 2,132 | 1,865 | +39.53% | 5,563 | 3,987 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -2.17% | 172,458 | 176,283 | -0.21% | 471,723 | 472,730 |
Sales Results - March 2017 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | MAR 2017 / MAR 2016 | MARCH 2017 | MARCH 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -26.47% | 1,367 | 1,859 | -25.92% | 3,346 | 4,517 |
| CT6 | +2,665.71% | 968 | 35 | +6,768.57% | 2,404 | 35 |
| CTS | -41.16% | 882 | 1,499 | -37.43% | 2,486 | 3,973 |
| ELR | -98.08% | 2 | 104 | -98.09% | 5 | 262 |
| ESCALADE | -16.51% | 1,648 | 1,974 | -14.36% | 4,300 | 5,021 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -3.96% | 1,214 | 1,264 | +4.19% | 3,205 | 3,076 |
| SRX | -99.61% | 16 | 4,071 | -99.19% | 104 | 12,866 |
| XT5 | * | 5,280 | * | * | 13,454 | * |
| XTS | -33.96% | 1,484 | 2,247 | -20.35% | 4,678 | 5,873 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -1.47% | 12,861 | 13,053 | -4.63% | 33,982 | 35,633 |
Sales Results - March 2017 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | MAR 2017 / MAR 2016 | MARCH 2017 | MARCH 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADA | -38.82% | 498 | 814 | +3.22% | 1,442 | 1,397 |
| ENCLAVE | -26.27% | 3,772 | 5,116 | -27.04% | 9,437 | 12,934 |
| ENCORE | +29.05% | 8,293 | 6,426 | +16.61% | 20,079 | 17,219 |
| ENVISION | * | 3,584 | * | * | 8,910 | * |
| LACROSSE | +2.42% | 2,330 | 2,275 | -44.46% | 4,985 | 8,975 |
| REGAL | +4.55% | 1,334 | 1,276 | -40.26% | 3,308 | 5,537 |
| VERANO | -50.17% | 1,146 | 2,300 | -75.15% | 2,044 | 8,225 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +15.10% | 20,957 | 18,207 | -7.52% | 50,205 | 54,287 |
Sales Results - March 2017 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | MAR 2017 / MAR 2016 | MARCH 2017 | MARCH 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | +83.97% | 11,432 | 6,214 | +56.76% | 29,112 | 18,571 |
| CANYON | -13.15% | 2,490 | 2,867 | -0.66% | 7,527 | 7,577 |
| SAVANA | +196.54% | 3,689 | 1,244 | +64.09% | 6,767 | 4,124 |
| SIERRA | -14.33% | 18,460 | 21,548 | -2.58% | 49,810 | 51,131 |
| TERRAIN | +13.64% | 7,831 | 6,891 | -4.60% | 22,855 | 23,958 |
| YUKON | -5.80% | 3,197 | 3,394 | +11.12% | 9,984 | 8,985 |
| YUKON XL | +17.39% | 2,849 | 2,427 | +12.74% | 7,556 | 6,702 |
| GMC TOTAL | +12.03% | 49,948 | 44,585 | +10.38% | 133,611 | 121,048 |
Sales Results - March 2017 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | MAR 2017 / MAR 2016 | MARCH 2017 | MARCH 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -2.17% | 172,458 | 176,283 | -0.21% | 471,723 | 472,730 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -1.47% | 12,861 | 13,053 | -4.63% | 33,982 | 35,633 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +15.10% | 20,957 | 18,207 | -7.52% | 50,205 | 54,287 |
| GMC TOTAL | +12.03% | 49,948 | 44,585 | +10.38% | 133,611 | 121,048 |
| GM USA TOTAL | +1.62% | 256,224 | 252,128 | +0.85% | 689,521 | 683,698 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to March 2016, except as noted
- There were 27 selling days in March 2017 and 27 selling days in March 2016
- Starting in September 2016, GM began reporting sales of the Chevrolet City Express and Low Cab Forward on a single line entitled Commercial Truck
Further Reading & Sales Reporting
- GM news
- Running GM sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
- Running Cadillac sales results
- Running Buick sales results
- Running GMC sales results
- March 2017 GM sales results
- U.S. GM March 2017 sales results
- U.S. March 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. March 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. March 2017 Buick sales results
- U.S. March 2017 GMC sales results
- GM Canada March 2017 sales results
- Canada March 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada March 2017 Cadillac sales results
- Canada March 2017 Buick sales results
- Canada March 2017 GMC sales results
- GM China March 2017 sales results
- Global March 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. GM March 2017 sales results
Comments
government motors fail!
for more than 40 year government motors failed! shame on obama because give money to gm
and now an idiot like trump want support domestic automobile companies
only jesus can help us
people want foreign car
they want quality car
1. GM posted a gain on sales while Ford & FCA posted declines
2. No one is forcing you to buy a GM vehicle
3. My parents have owned strictly GM vehicles since before I was born (23 years ago) w/ out any major issues
4. Mary Barra is kicking some serious ass and has turned around GM from the days of old
Mary is only kicking dirt.
Cadillac is still in the crapper.
She has no clue how to sell cars in Europe.
She has no clue how to sell a Cadillac in Europe.
She has no clue how to build a quality car without tons of cheap plastic, cheap paint, and horrible drive trains. (The transmission in the new CT6 is the worst in the industry!, and so are the engines)
By selling Opel she showed she has zero skills in selling cars and turning crappy car brands in successfull car brands, hence the ongoing horrible performance of Cadillac.
By selling Opel she ran from Europe like the scared little girl she is, leaving the largest luxury car market for the big boys.
GM is still the same old GM.
Troll
Chris,
Do you read Consumer Reports it look at JD Power rankings? If you had then you would observe GM (Chevrolet and Buick) topping Honda, VW and Nissan.
Government intervention saved jobs and the US industrial base which is needed by any developed nation.
Stop parroting Rush and Fox.
According to CR cadillac escalade is worse suv in class
So shut up steve liar.
http://www.consumerreports.org/new-cars/10-of-the-lowest-rated-cars-for-2017/
CR also rated Buick as the #3 brand in overall reliability, the highest ever for a domestic brand, and both the Chevy Cruze and Impala are top pics in their respective classes. GM makes a wide variety of products, and some are better or worse than others. Even Honda had the Civic removed from the recommended list due to poor reliability.
Stay classy though…
Wow, Buick is basically now the CUV (and we sell a few cars, as well) brand. Those Envision sales look good, though I wonder about incentives.
I will be fascinated to see how the 2018 Regal hatchback and wagon do when they are released in the U.S. Consumers clearly have largely dumped sedans/coupes for CUVs/SUVs (in all their forms), so I’ll be interested to see if consumers look at the Tourer wagon and think “Oh great! It’s got more useable space, like a CUV!” or “Ugh! It may look sleek, but it’s lower to the ground, like a sedan!”
Regardless, it’s a great move GM is bringing them over. As much as I would have loved (as still would) the 2015 Avenir concept to be a real-live halo car for Buick, in the real world, how many of them would Buick sell? The CT6 (the GM sedan closest priced to what the Avenir would have been) can’t even get 1,000 sales a month.
Buick needs to focus on cultivating the “entry” Encore buyers, building sales for that new Envision, and getting ready to go to battle with Acura, Lexus, Volvo, etc even more strongly when the updated Enclave comes out. Not to mention the new Regal variants, as noted. They will be plenty busy.
Well I did my part and bought a new Denali.
As for people like Chris the troll, let all collectively pi$$ on his Wheaties.
Might note on some of these models supplies had a part in the decline. I had been shopping the Colorado and Canyon and the crew cab short beds are hard to find and last only a week or so on the lot. The long bed crews are few but they do not sell as they are large enough many go to the full size at a discount. The crews are a mixed bag on sales.
I noted on the west coast the mid size trucks are plenty but here in the mid west most dealers will only have 2-6 on the lot at best and with no incentives they are moving them pretty quick.
The production is still 10 weeks to order and that is the best it has been. Some models are taking even longer for a Diesel.
Generally good news with some concerns.
Silverado was third in sales, surpassed by the RAM–yeah I know incentives play a part. Ford sold more F series than GM sold total trucks.
Cadillac retail sales decreased and more concerning, Escalade sales decreased. Really need those CUVs and SUVs!
Interesting times ahead– no one wants to buy cars, subprime lending is becoming a bigger concern, incentives in general are becoming a way to move product, especially in the competitive pickup market, and it appears the auto market is tapering off.
One thing worthy of note that was neglected to be mentioned here is that while Lacrosse sales are [only] up 2.42% overall, retail sales are up 60% for the Lacrosse.
Great to see LaCrosse sales finally picking up. Overall sedan slump not withstanding, this is an excellent car that can help anchor the brand holistically. Don’t want to see Buick just be associated with CUV’s.
Not to bad besides the Silverado sales. Ford had a pretty good month on their F150, so i’m guessing GM just didn’t put many incentives on the table, or their fleet sales boosted Silverado numbers last March.
Unsure why investors bounce this stock around so much on monthly sales. Tesla/GM/F all go crazy each month for no long term reason.
GM is not working the fleets as agressivly. That is were Ford gets volume but limited profits.
All three are offering big incentives on the large trucks. Ford GM and Ram have $10 k or more on incentives. I found many Z71 GMC and Chevy trucks $10k off. Same with Ford and my neighbor got over $10 k on his Ram.
I would be more interesting to know who is making the most profit here as I suspect it is not in relation to the volume.