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General Motors U.S. Sales Increase 1.3 Percent To 198,548 Units In January 2018

General Motors Company reported 198,548 new vehicle deliveries for January 2018 in the U.S. market, a 1.3 percent increase compared to January 2017. Sales increased at Chevrolet and Buick, while decreasing at Cadillac and GMC.

“All of our brands are building momentum in the industry’s hottest and most profitable segments,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “Chevrolet led the growth of the small crossover segment with the Trax as well as the mid-pickup segment with the Colorado. Now, we have the all-new Equinox and Traverse delivering higher sales, share and transaction prices.”

GM ended 2017 as the automaker with the fastest-growing crossover sales in the United States, and carried that momentum into January, as its crossover sales increased 20 percent. GM continues its focus on crossovers, a segment that is growing in volume and also carries higher margins than passenger cars. The automaker now offers customers the U.S. industry’s newest and broadest lineup of crossovers, including the 2018 Chevy Equinox2018 GMC Terrain2018 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 next year.

Sales Summary - January 2018 - General Motors - USA

SalesSales Mix
Total198,548195,909+1.3%+2,639100.0%100.0%
Sale TypeJanuary 2018January 2017January 2018 / January 2017January 2018 - January 2017January 2018January 2017
Retail151,244155,010-2.4%-3,76676.2%79.1%
Fleet47,30440,899+15.7%+6,40523.8%20.9%

GM U.S. January 2018 Sales Notes

General Motors sales overview:

Sale types:

  • Total sales volume increased 1.3 percent or 2,639 units to 198,548 vehicles:
    • Chevrolet cumulative sales increased 5 percent to 141,947 units
    • Cadillac cumulative sales decreased 3.9 percent to 9,895 units
    • GMC cumulative sales decreased 11.4 percent to 33,058 units
    • Buick cumulative sales increased 4.0 percent to 13,648 units
  • Retail sales volume decreased 2.4 percent or 3,766 units to 151,244 vehicles, representing 76.2 percent of total January 2018 sales compared to 79.1 percent in January 2017:
    • Chevrolet retail sales decreased 1.9 percent to 101,805 units
    • Cadillac retail sales increased 9.3 percent to 8,828 units
    • GMC retail sales decreased 8.9 percent to 27,799 units
    • Buick retail sales increased 1.7 percent to 12,812 units
  • Fleet sales volume increased 15.7 percent or 6,405 units to 47,304 vehicles, accounting for 23.8 percent of total January 2018 sales compared to 20.9 percent in January 2017:
    • Combined Commercial and Government deliveries increased 44 percent
    • Daily rental deliveries decreased 7 percent

Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:

  • Average transaction prices increased $1,270 year-over-year, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates
  • GM’s January incentive spending was 12.8 percent, a decrease of 1 point from a year ago and a decrease of 2 points month-over-month, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.

Inventory:

January month-end inventory was 749,529 units for a 94 days supply, representing:

  • A decrease of 3,029 units from the 752,554 units at the end of December 2017
  • An increase of 31 days from the 63 days supply at the end of December 2017
  • A decrease of 192,061 units from the 878,590 units at the end of January 2017
  • A decrease of 14 days from the 108 days supply at the end of January 2017

SAAR:

  • The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was 17.4 million vehicles in January 2018. The SAAR is estimated to be 17.4 million units for 2018 calendar-year-to-date.

Chevrolet sales increased 5.0 percent to 141,947 units:

Cadillac sales decreased 3.9 percent to 9,895 units:

Buick sales increased 4.0 percent to 13,648 units:

  • Buick Cascada sales decreased 35.26 percent to 202 units
  • Buick Enclave sales increased 0.85 percent to 2,715 units
  • Buick Encore sales decreased 11.66 percent to 4,645 units
  • Buick Envision sales increased 13.72 percent to 2,487 units, representing its best-ever January sales performance
  • Buick LaCrosse sales increased 129.99 percent to 3,006 units; GM states that “Buick saw a major acceleration” in LaCrosse deliveries during the month, which contributed to the brand’s 4.0 percent sales growth
  • Buick Regal sales decreased 40.27 percent to 568 units
  • Buick Verano sales decreased 93.9 percent to 25 units; the model has been discontinued for the U.S. market
  • Buick’s crossover momentum will continue to grow with greater availability of the all-new, second-generation Enclave, launched late last year, and the Regal TourX, which began arriving in dealerships in January

GMC sales decreased 11.4 percent to 33,058 units:

Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - Chevrolet

MODELJAN 2018 / JAN 2017JANUARY 2018JANUARY 2017
BOLT EV+1.29% 1,1771,162
CAMARO-20.09% 2,8673,588
CAPRICE-63.33% 2260
COLORADO+24.92% 8,0116,413
COMMERCIAL TRUCK+7.26% 517482
CORVETTE-20.43% 1,0051,263
CRUZE-45.57% 10,85819,949
EQUINOX+50.25% 26,40517,574
EXPRESS+44.29% 6,2364,322
IMPALA-47.25% 3,1505,972
MALIBU-9.84% 7,5538,377
SILVERADO+14.52% 40,71635,553
SONIC-53.79% 9682,095
SPARK-8.08% 1,5581,695
SS-64.06% 2364
SUBURBAN-6.14% 5,2885,634
TAHOE+21.53% 7,1475,881
TRAVERSE+41.48% 11,6278,218
TRAX+16.15% 6,1065,257
VOLT-55.74% 7131,611
CHEVROLET TOTAL+5.01% 141,947135,170

Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - Cadillac

MODELJAN 2018 / JAN 2017JANUARY 2018JANUARY 2017
ATS+18.58% 1,155974
CT6-0.95% 628634
CTS-4.20% 662691
ELR-100.00% 03
ESCALADE+15.19% 1,4031,218
ESCALADE ESV-14.40% 838979
XT5+2.73% 3,9893,883
XTS-34.02% 1,2201,849
CADILLAC TOTAL-3.91% 9,89510,298

Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - Buick

MODELJAN 2018 / JAN 2017JANUARY 2018JANUARY 2017
CASCADA-35.26% 202312
ENCLAVE+0.85% 2,7152,692
ENCORE-11.66% 4,6455,258
ENVISION+13.72% 2,4872,187
LACROSSE+129.99% 3,0061,307
REGAL-40.27% 568951
VERANO-93.90% 25410
BUICK TOTAL+4.05% 13,64813,117

Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - GMC

MODELJAN 2018 / JAN 2017JANUARY 2018JANUARY 2017
ACADIA-16.35% 7,4448,899
CANYON+5.44% 2,1712,059
SAVANA-43.32% 7001,235
SIERRA-18.26% 11,22413,732
TERRAIN+14.24% 7,1306,241
YUKON-12.31% 2,7013,080
YUKON XL-18.77% 1,6882,078
GMC TOTAL-11.43% 33,05837,324

Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - GM Totals

BRANDJAN 2018 / JAN 2017JANUARY 2018JANUARY 2017
CHEVROLET TOTAL+5.01% 141,947135,170
CADILLAC TOTAL-3.91% 9,89510,298
BUICK TOTAL+4.05% 13,64813,117
GMC TOTAL-11.43% 33,05837,324
GM USA TOTAL+1.35% 198,548195,909

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GM January 2017 sales, except as noted
  • There were 25 selling days in January 2018 and 24 selling days in January 2017
  • 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 Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Weird month, Lacrosse nearly out-sold Impala?, ATS sales up?.

    Reply
    1. Incentives and fleet sales for the win on those.

      Reply
    2. Guestt, Buick get a lot of Advertising time the Impala gets nothing with GM or its dealers

      Reply
  2. I find it interesting that the Escalade out sold the ESV, Personally if I had that kind of money, I would spend the extra money and get the ESV. I mean your already buying the king of the road, why not go all the way and get the California king of the road.

    Bolt sales are up, that’s a good sign.

    Reply
    1. Barely. Bolt sales hit 2000-3000 a month last year when they went nationwide, so 1100 again isn’t impressive.

      The shift from cars to SUVs and trucks is alarming, especially for GM. The Sonic, Cruze, and Malibu plants must be terrified.

      Reply
      1. The need to upgrade all of them to keep competitive in the segment.

        Reply
    2. Not everyone wants the long version. Some buy it as a personal vehicle rather than a family hauler.

      The normal one usually outsells the long one, historically.

      Reply
  3. I’d love to know the breakout of Lacrosse sales between 2017 and 2018 models, as well as retail vs. fleet. Incentives, perhaps combined with the lack of Regals on the lot, moved the Lacrosse this month. With rebates and bonus cash combining for up to $10k off in some regions, coupled with topped off GM cards and deep dealer discounts got the Lacrosse moving. It will be interesting to see how February compares, as they have backed off the rebates some. I also find it curious that there are absolutely no deals on the ’18s (excluding the eassist models).

    Reply
    1. Ya, I had the same reaction – interesting to see how many 2017s vs 2018s were in the mix.

      And what role incentives played – GMC and Buick are pushing incentives pretty hard …

      But numbers are up, regardless.

      Not a bad start.

      Reply
  4. Not a bad start but how and why is Toyota up 16 percent while GM is just holding steady? Camary and Rav 4 dominate in blandness, not much else.
    GM has an outstanding line up. I want a Regal TourX & The General really does have great style and quality in most segments.

    Reply
    1. This is a hunch that I’m working on finding more information to support… but the hunch is that Toyota is selling more to daily rental fleets. Meanwhile, every American automaker has significantly cut rental fleet sales. GM is leading this effort… Ford and FCA followed about a year after. So Toyota (and Honda, Nissan, Kia and Hyundai) have a significantly bigger daily rental sales opportunity now that the American manufacturers have mostly pulled out.

      Reply

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