General Motors U.S. Sales Increase 15.7 Percent To 296,341 Units In March 2018

General Motors Company reported 296,341 new vehicle deliveries for March 2018 in the U.S. market, a 15.7 percent increase compared to March 2017. Sales increased at all four of GM’s U.S. brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.

“March was an exceptional month for us. A growing economy and strong new products helped us execute a very successful plan to conquest customers from other brands,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “Once customers purchase a GM product, they tend to stay in the family as we deliver an award-winning ownership experience that is hard to beat.”

“Consumers are keeping the U.S. economy growing and auto sales very healthy,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “The job market is strong, consumer confidence is at decade-high levels and we see clear evidence that business owners are taking advantage of tax reform to upgrade their fleets.”

GM U.S. March 2018 Sales Notes

General Motors sales overview:

Sale types:

• Total sales volume increased 15.7 percent or 40,117 units to 296,341 vehicles:
  • Chevrolet cumulative sales increased 15.6 percent to 199,367 units for its best March sales performance since 2007
  • Cadillac cumulative sales increased 12.7 percent to 14,494 units for its best March sales performance since 2014
  • GMC cumulative sales increased 11.4 percent to 55,646 units for its best March sales performance in history
  • Buick cumulative sales increased 28 percent to 26,834 units for its best March sales performance since 2004
• Retail sales volume increased 13.8 percent or 28,043 units to 231,156 vehicles, representing 78 percent of total March 2018 sales compared to 203,113 units in March 2017, which represented 79.3 percent of total sales:
  • Chevrolet retail sales increased 11.5 percent to 149,089 units
  • Cadillac retail sales increased 5.3 percent to 11,696 units
  • GMC retail sales increased 19.9 percent to 46,833 units
  • Buick retail sales increased 22.2 percent to 23,538 units
  • GM’s estimated retail market share was 17.7 percent in March, the the highest since 2009. It was driven by a 0.7 percentage point gain by Chevrolet, which was the industry’s fastest-growing full-line brand.
• Fleet sales volume increased 22.7 percent or 12,074 units to 65,185 vehicles, accounting for 22 percent of total March 2018 sales compared to 53,111 units in March 2017, which represented 20.7 percent of total sales:
  • Commercial deliveries increased 19 percent
  • In the first quarter, commercial sales increased 27 percent, driven by higher pickup, crossover and Malibu sales
  • Rental deliveries were 11 percent of total sales for the month and the quarter, among the lowest levels in the industry
• GM’s three-truck pickup strategy continued to deliver, with truck sales increasing 19 percent in March, led by a 24 percent gain for the Chevrolet Silverado, a 52 percent gain for the Chevrolet Colorado and a 9 percent gain for the GMC Canyon. In the first quarter, pickup deliveries were up more than 2 percent.
• Chevrolet and GMC led the large SUV segment once again in March. Sales increased 4 percent in total and 13 percent on a retail basis, and retail segment share was more than 70 percent, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.

Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:

• GM’s March incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 14.5 percent, an increase of 1 percentage point.
• GM improved ATPs, which are net of incentives, were in line with a year ago, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.

Inventory:

March month-end inventory was 762,776 units for a 72 days supply, representing:

• A decrease of 16,602 units from the 762,776 units at the end of February 2018
• A decrease of 13 days from the 85 days supply at the end of February 2018
• A decrease of 163,394 units from the 926,170 units at the end of March 2017
• A decrease of 26 days from the 98 days at the end of March 2017

SAAR:

• The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was 17.2 million vehicles in March 2018. The SAAR is estimated to be 17.2 million units for 2018 calendar-year-to-date.

Chevrolet sales increased 15.6 percent to 199,367 units, representing its best March sales performance since 2007:

• Chevrolet crossover sales were up 39 percent:
  • Chevrolet Trax sales increased 26.3 percent to 8,207 units, representing its best March sales performance ever
  • Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 40.88 percent to 31,940 units, representing its best March sales performance ever
  • Chevrolet Traverse sales increased 40.97 percent to 15,023 units, representing its best March sales performance ever
  • Chevrolet Bolt EV sales increased 81.39 percent to 1,774 units
• Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 25.62 percent to 5,245 units
• Chevrolet Caprice sales decreased 57.69 percent to 11 units
• Chevrolet Colorado sales increased 51.89 percent to 12,798 units
• Chevrolet Commercial Truck sales, which include the discontinued Chevrolet City Express sales and Chevrolet Low Cab Forward sales, increased 12.46 percent to 794 units
• Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 14.59 percent to 2,101 units
• Chevrolet Cruze sales decreased 13.36 percent to 16,122 units
• Chevrolet Express sales increased 27.63 percent to 7,427 units
• Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 14.68 percent to 7,581 units
• Chevrolet Malibu sales increased 3.41 percent to 14,707 units
• Chevrolet SS sales decreased 99.51 percent to 6 units; production of the vehicle was discontinued in 2017
• Chevrolet Silverado sales increased 23.9 percent to 52,547 units
• Chevrolet Sonic sales increased 16.22 percent to 3,934 units
• Chevrolet Spark sales increased 2.45 percent to 3,387 units
• Chevrolet Suburban sales increased 13.99 percent to 4,433 units
• Chevrolet Tahoe sales increased 4.78 percent to 9,548 units
• Chevrolet Volt sales decreased 16.42 percent to 1,782 units

Cadillac sales increased 12.7 percent to 14,494 units, representing its best March sales performance since 2014:

• Cadillac car sales increased 7 percent in March, with every nameplate posting growth during the month:
  • Cadillac ATS sales increased 3.8 percent to 1,419 units
  • Cadillac CT6 sales increased 2.69 percent to 994 units
  • Cadillac CTS sales increased 1.36 percent to 894 units
  • Cadillac XTS sales increased 16.91 percent to 1,735 units
• Cumulative Cadillac Escalade sales increased 14 percent to 3,263 units:
  • Cadillac Escalade sales increased 18.75 percent to 1,957 units, and
  • Cadillac Escalade ESV sales increased 7.58 percent to 1,306 units
  • Despite new competition, Escalade’s retail sales increased 15 percent in March and 12 percent in the first quarter
  • Transaction prices for the model continue to grow and retail market share is estimated to be up 2 percentage points year to date.
• Cadillac SRX sales decreased 93.75 percent to 1 unit; the vehicle has been discontinued and replaced by the XT5
• Cadillac XT5 sales increased 17.2 percent to 6,188 units
• Last week, the brand unveiled the all-new Cadillac XT4 compact crossover, which will go on sale later this year and enter the industry’s fastest-growing luxury car segment

Buick sales increased 28 percent to 26,834 units, representing its best March sales performance since 2004:

• Buick crossover sales increased 50 percent:
  • Buick Encore sales increased 82.3 percent to 15,118 units, representing its best monthly sales performance ever
  • Buick Envision sales increased 21.85 percent to 4,367 units, representing its best March sales performance ever
  • Buick Enclave sales increased 6.34 percent to 4,011 units
• Buick Cascada sales decreased 16.27 percent to 417 units
• Buick LaCrosse sales decreased 11.12 percent to 2,071 units
• Buick Regal sales decreased 38.38 percent to 822 units
• Buick Verano sales decreased 97.56 percent to 28 units; the vehicle has been discontinued and has not been replaced in the U.S. market

GMC sales increased 11.4 percent to 55,646 units, representing its best March sales performance in history:

• GMC crossover sales increased 42 percent:
  • GMC Acadia sales increased 2.79 percent to 11,751 units, representing its best March sales performance ever
  • GMC Terrain sales increased 98.94 percent to 15,579 units, representing its best monthly sales performance ever
• GMC Canyon sales increased 9.36 percent to 2,723 units
• GMC Savana sales decreased 29.01 percent to 2,619 units
• GMC Sierra sales decreased 7.46 percent to 17,082 units
• GMC Yukon sales increased 1.88 percent to 3,257 units
• GMC Yukon XL sales decreased 7.51 percent to 2,635 units

In the first three months of 2018, GM U.S. sales increased 3.8 percent to 715,794 units.

General Motors has recently announced that it will no longer report U.S. sales results on a monthly basis after March. Instead, the automaker will report sales figures on a quarterly basis going forward. Despite that development, GM Authority is exploring various ways to bring its readers more frequent sales coverage using alternative data sources.

Sales Results - March 2018 - USA - Chevrolet

Sales Results - March 2018 - USA - Cadillac

Sales Results - March 2018 - USA - Buick

Sales Results - March 2018 - USA - GMC

Sales Results - March 2018 - USA - GM Totals

About The Numbers

• All percent change figures compared to GM March 2017 sales, except as noted
• There were 28 selling days in March 2018 and 27 selling days in March 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

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• March 2018 GM sales results
  • U.S. GM March 2018 sales results
    • U.S. March 2018 Chevrolet sales results
    • U.S. March 2018 Cadillac sales results
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