General Motors Company reported 308,539 new vehicle deliveries for December 2017 in the U.S. market, a 3.3 percent decrease compared to December 2016. Sales decreased at Chevrolet and Cadillac while increasing at Buick and GMC.
Notably, there was one less selling day in December 2017 than there was in December 2016.
“We are winning customers in the fastest-growing parts of the market, and our momentum continues to grow because we have strengthened our brands, grown our Commercial and Government business, sharply reduced rental sales and successfully transitioned to a crossover- and truck-focused business,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We are starting 2018 with very lean inventories for such a strong industry, and we see more room to grow because Chevrolet, Buick and GMC will have a full year of sales of their all-new crossovers, and we are going to launch the industry’s best full-size pickups.”
GM continues its focus on crossovers, a segment that is growing in volume and also carries higher margins than passenger cars. GM is now offering customers the U.S. industry’s newest and broadest lineup of crossovers, including the 2018 Chevy Equinox, 2018 GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2018 Buick Enclave along with the Buick Regal TourX ruggedized wagon. An all-new Cadillac XT4 compact crossover will launch in 2018 to grow Cadillac’s crossover lineup. And though not officially confirmed, GM is also expected to introduce a new Chevrolet Blazer as a midsize crossover in 2018.
Sales Summary - December 2017 - General Motors - USA
| Sales | Sales Mix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 308,539 | 319,108 | -3.3% | -10,569 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Sale Type | December 2017 | December 2016 | December 2017 / December 2016 | December 2017 - December 2016 | December 2017 | December 2016 |
| Retail | 254,449 | 249,983 | +1.8% | +4,466 | 82.5% | 78.3% |
| Fleet | 54,090 | 69,125 | -21.8% | -15,035 | 17.5% | 21.7% |
GM U.S. December 2017 Sales Notes
General Motors sales overview:
Sale types:
- Total sales volume decreased 3.3 percent to 308,539 vehicles or 10,569 units:
- Chevrolet cumulative sales decreased 2.9 percent to 206,804 units
- Cadillac cumulative sales decreased 28.6 percent to 15,304 units
- GMC cumulative sales increased 1.2 percent to 64,146 units
- Buick cumulative sales increased 4.7 percent to 22,285 units
- Retail sales volume increased 1.8 percent or 4,466 vehicles to 254,449 units, representing 82.5 percent of total December 2017 sales compared to 78.3 percent in December 2016:
- Chevrolet retail sales decreased 1.5 percent to 160,938 units
- Cadillac retail sales decreased 16.3 percent to 14,287 units
- GMC retail sales increased 13.8 percent to 57,587 units, increasing the brand’s retail share an estimated 0.6 percentage points to 4.1 percent
- Buick retail sales increased 14.6 percent to 21,637 units
- GM’s retail market share is expected to surpass 18 percent, up one percentage point for the company’s best month of the year
- Fleet sales volume decreased 21.8 percent or 15,035 vehicles to 54,090 units, accounting for 17.5 percent of total December 2017 sales compared to 21.7 percent in December 2016:
- Commercial and government deliveries were up a combined 7 percent
- Daily rental deliveries were down 40 percent
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:
- GM’s incentive incentive spending during December averaged 14.8 percent, higher than its own average of 13.3 percent in the fourth quarter
- GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) in the fourth quarter of 2017 averaged 13.3 percent, in line with the fourth quarter of 2016, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.
Inventory:
December month-end inventory was 752,554 units for a 63 days supply, representing:
- A decrease of 66,773 units from the 819,327 units at the end of November 2017
- A decrease of 20 days from the 83 days supply at the end of November 2017
- A decrease of 92,388 units from the 844,942 units at the end of December 2016
- A decrease of 8 days from the 71 days supply at the end of December 2016
SAAR:
- The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was estimated to be 18.2 million vehicles in December 2017. The SAAR was estimated at 17.3 million units for 2017 calendar year.
Chevrolet sales decreased 2.9 percent to 206,804 units:
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales increased 457.34 percent to 3,227 units, its best month ever
- Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 45.69 percent to 3,802 units
- Chevrolet Caprice sales decreased 85.48 percent to 18 units; production of the vehicle was discontinued earlier in 2017
- Chevrolet Colorado sales increased 2.07 percent to 9,626 units
- Chevrolet Commercial Truck sales increased 26.61 percent to 923 units
- Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 15.91 percent to 2,278 units
- Chevrolet Cruze sales decreased 22.62 percent to 13,406 units
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 20.55 percent to 32,784 units for its best total December sales ever
- Chevrolet Express sales decreased 18.9 percent to 6,296 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 24.02 percent to 8,201 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 26.95 percent to 16,628 units
- Chevrolet SS sales decreased 55.32 percent to 42 units; production of the vehicle was discontinued earlier in 2017
- Chevrolet Silverado sales increased 24.7 percent to 67,676 units, with the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab having its best month ever
- Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased 69.47 percent to 1,946 units
- Chevrolet Spark sales decreased 27.67 percent to 3,079 units
- Chevrolet Suburban sales decreased 23.57 percent to 5,788 units
- Chevrolet Tahoe sales decreased 13.67 percent to 10,271 units
- Chevrolet Traverse sales increased 18.61 percent to 12,313 units for its best total December sales ever
- Chevrolet Trax sales decreased 18.03 percent to 6,563 units
- Chevrolet Volt sales decreased 47.52 percent to 1,937 units
- Chevrolet ATPs for the month were the best-ever at more than $34,000
Cadillac sales increased 28.6 percent to 15,304 units:
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 52.31 percent to 1,093 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales decreased 34.96 percent to 841 units
- Cadillac CTS sales decreased 52.56 percent to 805 units
- Cadillac ELR sales decreased 100 percent to 0 units
- Cadillac Escalade sales decreased 14.96 percent to 2,881 units
- Cadillac Escalade ESV sales decreased 24.62 percent to 1,571 units
- Cadillac SRX sales decreased 99.19 percent to 1 units
- Cadillac XT5 sales decreased 7.37 percent to 6,888 units
- Cadillac XTS sales decreased 60.88 percent to 1,224 units
- Cadillac ATPs set a new monthly record of $58,300
Buick sales increased 4.7 percent to 22,285 units:
- Buick Cascada sales decreased 35.14 percent to 408 units
- Buick Enclave sales increased 40.16 percent to 5,326 units; retail sales increased 46 percent
- Buick Encore sales increased 3.83 percent to 8,052 units; retail sales increased 2 percent
- Buick Envision sales increased 54.06 percent to 6,056 units; retail sales increased 93 percent
- Buick LaCrosse sales decreased 50.99 percent to 1,385 units
- Buick Regal sales decreased 23.22 percent to 1,005 units
- Buick Verano sales decreased 94.89 percent to 53 units
GMC sales increased 1.2 percent to 64,146 units for the brand’s best sales month in over 12 years:
- GMC Acadia sales decreased 11.09 percent to 10,837 units; retail sales increased 1 percent
- GMC Canyon sales decreased 14.35 percent to 3,467 units
- GMC Savana sales decreased 54.73 percent to 1,954 units
- GMC Sierra sales increased 13.51 percent to 26,436 units; retail sales increased 18 percent
- GMC Terrain sales decreased 12.63 percent to 6,500 units
- GMC Yukon sales increased 35.93 percent to 8,531 units; retail sales increased 54 percent
- GMC Yukon XL sales increased 9.65 percent to 6,421 units; retail sales increased 51 percent
- GMC’s December ATPs were the highest on record at approximately $47,500
- Denali deliveries set a monthly record, with penetration approaching 40 percent
In the complete 2017 calendar year, General Motors U.S. sales decreased 1.3 percent to 3,002,242 vehicles. Retail sales during the same time frame decreased 0.9 percent to 2,424,419 units.
Sales Results - December 2017 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +457.34% | 3,227 | 579 | +3,923.66% | 23,297 | 579 |
| CAMARO | -45.69% | 3,802 | 7,000 | -6.55% | 67,940 | 72,705 |
| CAPRICE | -85.48% | 18 | 124 | -32.13% | 693 | 1,021 |
| CAPTIVA SPORT | * | 0 | * | * | 4 | * |
| COLORADO | +2.07% | 9,626 | 9,431 | +3.93% | 112,996 | 108,725 |
| COMMERCIAL TRUCK | +26.61% | 923 | 729 | +18.93% | 8,348 | 7,019 |
| CORVETTE | -15.91% | 2,278 | 2,709 | -16.39% | 25,079 | 29,995 |
| CRUZE | -22.62% | 13,406 | 17,324 | -2.18% | 184,751 | 188,876 |
| EQUINOX | +20.55% | 32,784 | 27,195 | +19.93% | 290,458 | 242,195 |
| EXPRESS | -18.90% | 6,296 | 7,763 | +1.70% | 69,164 | 68,007 |
| IMPALA | -24.02% | 8,201 | 10,794 | -21.78% | 75,877 | 97,006 |
| MALIBU | -26.95% | 16,628 | 22,764 | -18.44% | 185,857 | 227,881 |
| SILVERADO | +24.70% | 67,676 | 54,272 | +1.91% | 585,864 | 574,876 |
| SONIC | -69.47% | 1,946 | 6,375 | -45.18% | 30,290 | 55,255 |
| SPARK | -27.67% | 3,079 | 4,257 | -36.39% | 22,589 | 35,511 |
| SS | -55.32% | 42 | 94 | +34.58% | 4,055 | 3,013 |
| SUBURBAN | -23.57% | 5,788 | 7,573 | -5.94% | 56,516 | 60,082 |
| TAHOE | -13.67% | 10,271 | 11,897 | -4.21% | 98,961 | 103,306 |
| TRAVERSE | +18.61% | 12,313 | 10,381 | +5.83% | 123,506 | 116,701 |
| TRAX | -18.03% | 6,563 | 8,007 | +0.35% | 79,289 | 79,016 |
| VOLT | -47.52% | 1,937 | 3,691 | -17.75% | 20,349 | 24,739 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -2.89% | 206,804 | 212,959 | -1.46% | 2,065,883 | 2,096,508 |
Sales Results - December 2017 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -52.31% | 1,093 | 2,292 | -39.08% | 13,100 | 21,505 |
| CT6 | -34.96% | 841 | 1,293 | +14.97% | 10,542 | 9,169 |
| CTS | -52.56% | 805 | 1,697 | -34.99% | 10,344 | 15,911 |
| ELR | -100.00% | 0 | 3 | -96.82% | 17 | 534 |
| ESCALADE | -14.96% | 2,881 | 3,388 | -2.58% | 22,994 | 23,604 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -24.62% | 1,571 | 2,084 | -5.09% | 14,700 | 15,488 |
| SRX | -99.19% | 1 | 124 | -99.30% | 156 | 22,139 |
| XT5 | -7.37% | 6,888 | 7,436 | +73.01% | 68,312 | 39,485 |
| XTS | -60.88% | 1,224 | 3,129 | -26.59% | 16,275 | 22,171 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -28.64% | 15,304 | 21,446 | -7.98% | 156,440 | 170,006 |
Sales Results - December 2017 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADA | -35.14% | 408 | 629 | -21.78% | 5,595 | 7,153 |
| ENCLAVE | +40.16% | 5,326 | 3,800 | -6.66% | 48,564 | 52,028 |
| ENCORE | +3.83% | 8,052 | 7,755 | +12.05% | 88,035 | 78,565 |
| ENVISION | +54.06% | 6,056 | 3,931 | +189.16% | 41,040 | 14,193 |
| LACROSSE | -50.99% | 1,385 | 2,826 | -26.91% | 20,161 | 27,582 |
| REGAL | -23.22% | 1,005 | 1,309 | -41.72% | 11,559 | 19,833 |
| VERANO | -94.89% | 53 | 1,038 | -85.87% | 4,277 | 30,277 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +4.68% | 22,285 | 21,288 | -4.53% | 219,231 | 229,631 |
Sales Results - December 2017 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | -11.09% | 10,837 | 12,189 | +26.29% | 111,726 | 88,466 |
| CANYON | -14.35% | 3,467 | 4,048 | -14.27% | 32,106 | 37,449 |
| SAVANA | -54.73% | 1,954 | 4,316 | +44.02% | 29,679 | 20,607 |
| SIERRA | +13.51% | 26,436 | 23,290 | -1.69% | 217,943 | 221,680 |
| TERRAIN | -12.63% | 6,500 | 7,440 | -2.83% | 85,441 | 87,925 |
| YUKON | +35.93% | 8,531 | 6,276 | -7.98% | 49,183 | 53,447 |
| YUKON XL | +9.65% | 6,421 | 5,856 | -5.38% | 35,059 | 37,054 |
| GMC TOTAL | +1.15% | 64,146 | 63,415 | +2.57% | 560,687 | 546,628 |
Sales Results - December 2017 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -2.89% | 206,804 | 212,959 | -1.46% | 2,065,883 | 2,096,508 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -28.64% | 15,304 | 21,446 | -7.98% | 156,440 | 170,006 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +4.68% | 22,285 | 21,288 | -4.53% | 219,231 | 229,631 |
| GMC TOTAL | +1.15% | 64,146 | 63,415 | +2.57% | 560,687 | 546,628 |
| GM USA TOTAL | -3.31% | 308,539 | 319,108 | -1.33% | 3,002,241 | 3,042,773 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM December 2016 sales, except as noted
- There were 26 selling days in December 2017 and 27 selling days in December 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
- GM incentives and offers
- December 2017 GM sales results
- U.S. GM December 2017 sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Buick sales results
- U.S. December 2017 GMC sales results
- GM Canada December 2017 sales results
- Canada December 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- Canada December 2017 Buick sales results
- Canada December 2017 GMC sales results
- GM China December 2017 sales results
- Global December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. GM December 2017 sales results
Comments
Very impressed with Chevy’s quality: I rented a new Impala for the second time Christmas week and my parents just replaced their 2009 Malibu with a 2018. Superior vehicles to what GM was building the last couple of decades. Too bad fewer people are buying these vehicles.
What’s interesting is if we look at Chevy and Buick virtually every increase comes in the form of a Truck/SUV/CUV/Crossover…GM considers the Bolt EV a crossover and there were some SUVs that did decrease…Yet every single GM “car”, regardless of GM brand (GMC doesn’t have any), has decreased…
December is generally a bad month, collectively, for all automakers…
There was also some other exciting news that I think is worth noting…Chevrolet’s ATP was 34,000 dollars for the month; Denali penetration was approaching ** 40%** for the month and OVER 30% for the year, with GMC’s ATP at approximately 47,500 dollars for the month (a monthly record) and 43,700 dollars for the year (yearly record) and Denali ATP was about 25% higher than overall GMC ATP; Cadillac’s ATP for the month was it’s highest ever at 58,300. GM had a very nice year.
Cadillac down almost 30% in December! Down 8% for the year! It’s like they aren’t even trying. Limited marketing. Lackluster service. Quality concerns. No new vehicles. They have truly reached the bottom before the “product offensive” that is to come. These new vehicles need to exceed the competition and have the marketing and service to back them up. Cadillac needs change.
The change is already in place… we just haven’t seen it yet. This is the calm before the storm and is part of a strategy that took two quarters to plan… with people working dawn to dusk all over the globe.
Wow! Those geniuses working dawn to dusk have come up with a brilliant plan. Run the company completely into the ground so that any uptick in the future will look like the “strategy”. In the mean time, all the other competing manufacturers, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, and now even Genesis aka Hyundai, are producing superior products and increasing sales and production. Record year for AMG, ATP over $100,000, can’t keep them in stock.
Ok lets take into consideration where Cadillac is and what is actually going on. Cadillac isn’t growing in sales because it hasn’t got a full crossover lineup, not due to the lack of advertising, and even with the drop in sales ATPs for the month of Dec hit a record of 58,000 dollars. Cadillac isnt being ran down to the ground and sales arent the only measure for success. Calm down we are going to see new models this year. Amd also AMG is more of a performance arm, with vehicles that cost over 100,000 not the best comparison, rather compare Mercedes to Cadillac not a small division of the brand.
Something tells me this lovely January weather isn’t going to help matters, unfortunately.
Can Someone please explain the “inventory supply” thing to me in basic terms. what do the days mean? Does GM really still have 700,000+ 2017 models to sell? How do they calculate the number of days they have left? Whats the deal?
So Day to turn from my basic understanding is about the average amount of time it takes to sell off inventory. So it will take about 63 days for GM to move all 752,000 units( which is not all 2017 models, remember 2018 model were being sold during the summer time). Which gets pretty interesting when ur looking at attractive new products, like with the new Navigator and Expedition their days to turn is about 6 days which is really fast. But with like the Buick Lacrosse that is sitting at nearly 300 days to move all inventory. Just for an example. Hopefully that helped.
Typically they say for a full line manufacturer “Days to turn” should be between 60 and 70 days during great economic times.
Kinda sad/desperate to watch GMC go full-on retail during NFL wildcard games … not alternating brand/retail, just heavy $9000-off stuff.
Not exactly pro grade, but I guess they have their reasons (2017s/bad weather everywhere, etc).
GMC on again – now $9130-off.
It’s like watching Bloomberg and stock droppage.