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 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 next year.
Sales Summary - January 2018 - General Motors - USA
| Sales | Sales Mix |
| Total | 198,548 | 195,909 | +1.3% | +2,639 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Sale Type | January 2018 | January 2017 | January 2018 / January 2017 | January 2018 - January 2017 | January 2018 | January 2017 |
| Retail | 151,244 | 155,010 | -2.4% | -3,766 | 76.2% | 79.1% |
| Fleet | 47,304 | 40,899 | +15.7% | +6,405 | 23.8% | 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:
- Demand for Chevrolet trucks and crossovers was very robust, helping with the 5 percent year-over-year increase:
- Chevrolet was the fastest-growing crossover brand of 2017, and January deliveries were up 40 percent. The all-new Equinox and Traverse, as well as the Trax and Bolt EV, all posted their best-ever January sales.
- Chevrolet’s unique three-truck pickup strategy delivered a 17 percent increase in deliveries, with the Colorado up 25 percent and the Silverado up 15 percent. It was the best January ever for Silverado crew cabs.
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales increased 1.29 percent to 1,177 units, representing a new all-time sales record and the model’s best-ever January sales
- Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 20.09 percent to 2,867 units
- Chevrolet Caprice sales decreased 63.33 percent to 22 units
- Chevrolet Commercial Truck sales increased 7.26 percent to 517 units
- Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 20.43 percent to 1,005 units
- Chevrolet Cruze sales decreased 45.57 percent to 10,858 units
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 50.25 percent to 26,405 units, representing its best-ever January sales performance
- Chevrolet Express sales increased 44.29 percent to 6,236 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 47.25 percent to 3,150 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 9.84 percent to 7,553 units
- Chevrolet SS sales decreased 64.06 percent to 23 units
- Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased 53.79 percent to 968 units
- Chevrolet Spark sales decreased 8.08 percent to 1,558 units
- Chevrolet Suburban sales decreased 6.14 percent to 5,288 units
- Chevrolet Tahoe sales increased 21.53 percent to 7,147 units
- Chevrolet Traverse sales increased 41.48 percent to 11,627 units, representing its best-ever January sales performance
- Chevrolet Trax sales increased 16.15 percent to 6,106 units, representing its best-ever January sales performance
- Chevrolet Volt sales decreased 55.74 percent to 713 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
| MODEL | JAN 2018 / JAN 2017 | JANUARY 2018 | JANUARY 2017 |
| BOLT EV | +1.29% | 1,177 | 1,162 |
| CAMARO | -20.09% | 2,867 | 3,588 |
| CAPRICE | -63.33% | 22 | 60 |
| COLORADO | +24.92% | 8,011 | 6,413 |
| COMMERCIAL TRUCK | +7.26% | 517 | 482 |
| CORVETTE | -20.43% | 1,005 | 1,263 |
| CRUZE | -45.57% | 10,858 | 19,949 |
| EQUINOX | +50.25% | 26,405 | 17,574 |
| EXPRESS | +44.29% | 6,236 | 4,322 |
| IMPALA | -47.25% | 3,150 | 5,972 |
| MALIBU | -9.84% | 7,553 | 8,377 |
| SILVERADO | +14.52% | 40,716 | 35,553 |
| SONIC | -53.79% | 968 | 2,095 |
| SPARK | -8.08% | 1,558 | 1,695 |
| SS | -64.06% | 23 | 64 |
| SUBURBAN | -6.14% | 5,288 | 5,634 |
| TAHOE | +21.53% | 7,147 | 5,881 |
| TRAVERSE | +41.48% | 11,627 | 8,218 |
| TRAX | +16.15% | 6,106 | 5,257 |
| VOLT | -55.74% | 713 | 1,611 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +5.01% | 141,947 | 135,170 |
Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | JAN 2018 / JAN 2017 | JANUARY 2018 | JANUARY 2017 |
| ATS | +18.58% | 1,155 | 974 |
| CT6 | -0.95% | 628 | 634 |
| CTS | -4.20% | 662 | 691 |
| ELR | -100.00% | 0 | 3 |
| ESCALADE | +15.19% | 1,403 | 1,218 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -14.40% | 838 | 979 |
| XT5 | +2.73% | 3,989 | 3,883 |
| XTS | -34.02% | 1,220 | 1,849 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -3.91% | 9,895 | 10,298 |
Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | JAN 2018 / JAN 2017 | JANUARY 2018 | JANUARY 2017 |
| CASCADA | -35.26% | 202 | 312 |
| ENCLAVE | +0.85% | 2,715 | 2,692 |
| ENCORE | -11.66% | 4,645 | 5,258 |
| ENVISION | +13.72% | 2,487 | 2,187 |
| LACROSSE | +129.99% | 3,006 | 1,307 |
| REGAL | -40.27% | 568 | 951 |
| VERANO | -93.90% | 25 | 410 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +4.05% | 13,648 | 13,117 |
Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | JAN 2018 / JAN 2017 | JANUARY 2018 | JANUARY 2017 |
| ACADIA | -16.35% | 7,444 | 8,899 |
| CANYON | +5.44% | 2,171 | 2,059 |
| SAVANA | -43.32% | 700 | 1,235 |
| SIERRA | -18.26% | 11,224 | 13,732 |
| TERRAIN | +14.24% | 7,130 | 6,241 |
| YUKON | -12.31% | 2,701 | 3,080 |
| YUKON XL | -18.77% | 1,688 | 2,078 |
| GMC TOTAL | -11.43% | 33,058 | 37,324 |
Sales Results - January 2018 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | JAN 2018 / JAN 2017 | JANUARY 2018 | JANUARY 2017 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +5.01% | 141,947 | 135,170 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -3.91% | 9,895 | 10,298 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +4.05% | 13,648 | 13,117 |
| GMC TOTAL | -11.43% | 33,058 | 37,324 |
| GM USA TOTAL | +1.35% | 198,548 | 195,909 |
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
By Alex Luft
GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.
View Comments
Weird month, Lacrosse nearly out-sold Impala?, ATS sales up?.
Incentives and fleet sales for the win on those.
Guestt, Buick get a lot of Advertising time the Impala gets nothing with GM or its dealers
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.
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.
The need to upgrade all of them to keep competitive in the segment.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Nope. A delivery is not counted "to a dealer" but rather when a customer takes delivery of the car from the dealer. These are not GM to dealer sales, these are GM dealer to customer sales.