General Motors Company reported 756,376 new vehicle deliveries for the second quarter of 2018 in the U.S. market, a 4.6 percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2017. Sales increased at Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC, while decreasing at Buick.
“Customers are buying with confidence because the economy is strong and they expect it to remain strong,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “GM is in a fantastic position with so many new crossovers at all four of our brands, the industry’s only three-truck pickup strategy and clear leadership in large SUVs.”
“Tax reform raised take-home pay, consumer confidence is high and household balance sheets are healthy,” said GM chief economist Elaine Buckberg. “All of this plus a strong job market makes consumers more willing to commit to major purchases like vehicles.”
Gross domestic product is expected to grow more than 4 percent in the second quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which would make it the strongest second quarter since 2014. In addition, the economy has seen 92 consecutive months of job creation through May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
GM U.S. Q2 2018 Sales Notes
General Motors sales overview:
Sale types:
- Total GM Q2 2018 sales increased 4.6 percent to 758,376 units
- Retail sales accounted for 78 percent of GM’s total Q2 2018 sales
- Fleet sales accounted for 22 percent of GM’s total Q2 2018 sales
- GM says that this reflects strong Commercial demand and higher deliveries to daily rental companies due to the timing of customer orders.
- For the calendar year, daily rental deliveries are expected to be about 10 percent of total sales, in line with 2017.
- GM did not provide detailed retail vs. fleet delivery breakouts, a significant and notable departure from the way it reported previously (on a monthly basis). It did, however, remark on its Commercial business.
- Commercial deliveries in the second quarter of 2018 were up 4 percent year over year and up 14 percent in the first half, thanks in part to very strong mid-size and large pickup sales.
- GM also stated that the Commercial segment has been a significant source of growth for GM. Since 2012, sales to these fleet customers have grown 42 percent, which is an average annual rate of 7 percent.
- “Commercial customers tell us they prefer to do business with a company that can satisfy all their vehicle needs, and sedans are an important part of the mix because they typically offer very good safety, comfort, fuel economy and a lower total cost of ownership than other vehicle choices,” said McNeil. “Some automakers are scaling back their car offerings at the same time we are investing in the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu, and expanding our truck and crossover portfolio. We see a terrific opportunity to forge new and stronger customer relationships with such a broad portfolio.”
- Chevrolet and GMC delivered industry-leading pickup sales for the second quarter and first half of 2018. Sales were up 21 percent in the second quarter versus a year ago, and up 12 percent in the first half.
- The leadership of Chevrolet and GMC in the large SUV segment continued, with deliveries up 22 percent in the second quarter versus a year ago, and up more than 10 percent in the first half.
- Combined sales of pickups, large vans and SUVs increased 18 percent year-over-year to more than 366,000 units, the highest for any second quarter since 2007. They were up 11 percent in the first half to almost 665,800 units.
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:
- GM ATPs rose by about $300 year-over-year to a second quarter record of $35,500 on the strength of new crossovers such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.
- GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 13.4 percent in the second quarter, down from 13.8 percent in the first quarter. The industry average for the second quarter was 11.8 percent.
Inventory:
- At the end of Q2 2018, GM’s dealer inventory was approximately 787,500 units, down 193,000 units versus a year ago.
SAAR:
- The U.S. light vehicle SAAR for the second quarter and first half of 2018 are both expected to be about 17.2 million units.
- The outlook for the second half of the year also looks strong, according to GM Chief Economist Elaine Buckberg.
Chevrolet sales increased 6.2 percent to 528,100 units:
- Chevrolet saw record crossover deliveries in the first quarter and in the first half of 2018
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales decreased 22.6 percent to 3,483 units
- U.S. and global deliveries of the Chevrolet Bolt EV has been strong in 2018, with global sales estimated to be up more than 35 percent year-over- year in the second quarter and up more than 40 percent in the first half. In response, GM is increasing fourth quarter production at the GM Lake Orion plant by more than 20 percent compared to the average of the first three quarters.
- “Demand for the Chevrolet Bolt EV, especially in the United States, Canada and South Korea, has outstripped production,” said GM’s McNeil. “The extra production coming on line should be enough to help us keep growing global Bolt EV sales, rebuild our U.S. dealer inventory and bring us another step closer to our vision of a world with zero emissions.”
- Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 36.11 percent to 13,588 units
- Chevrolet Colorado sales increased 46.78 percent to 41,016 units
- Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 26.8 percent to 5,785 units
- Chevrolet Cruze sales decreased 26.2 percent to 37,836 units
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 4.55 percent to 73,967 units, marking the model’s best-ever first half sales performance
- Chevrolet Express sales increased 8.43 percent to 21,413 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales increased 46.34 percent to 13,595 units
- Chevrolet Low Cab Forward sales totaled 756 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 13.55 percent to 42,267 units
- Chevrolet Silverado sales increased 15.66 percent to 155,529 units
- Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased 55.68 percent to 4,582 units
- Chevrolet Spark sales increased 115.38 percent to 4,454 units
- Chevrolet Suburban sales increased 32.1 percent to 15,136 units
- Chevrolet Tahoe sales increased 20.24 percent to 26,880 units
- Chevrolet Traverse sales increased 30.02 percent to 35,892 units, marking the model’s best-ever second quarter and first half sales performance
- In the first half of the year, Chevrolet Traverse ATPs increased nearly $7,000 year-over-year, while the segment average was up just 1 percent
- GM says that retail sales share in the first half climbed almost 3 percentage points year-over-year, the biggest of any midsize crossover or SUV, even though the Traverse is a full-size crossover SUV and the new 2019 Blazer is the midsize crossover SUV offering
- Chevrolet Trax sales increased 42.74 percent to 26,507 units, marking the model’s best-ever second quarter and first half sales performance
- Chevrolet Volt sales decreased 19.24 percent to 4,336 units
Cadillac sales increased 3 percent to 39,222 units:
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 2.02 percent to 3,785 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales decreased 18.91 percent to 2,427 units
- Cadillac CTS sales increased 2.6 percent to 2,640 units
- Cadillac ELR sales decreased 100 percent to 0 units; the model has been discontinued and has not been replaced
- Cadillac Escalade sales increased 0.8 percent to 9,655 units
- GM no longer breaks out sales of the regular-wheelbase Escalade vs. the extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV, with all Escalade sales now being reported on the single Escalade line
- For this reason, Escalade ESV sales show a 100 percent drop to 0 units
- Cadillac SRX sales decreased 88.1 percent to 5 units; the model has been discontinued and has been replaced by the Cadillac XT5
- Cadillac XT5 sales increased 4.29 percent to 17,045 units
- The XT5 showed year-over-year sales growth in 14 of the last 15 months
- Cadillac delivered record crossover sales performance in the first six months of the year
- To build on this momentum, the upcoming 2019 Cadillac XT4 will launch this fall and tooling at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City has commenced
- Cadillac XTS sales increased 36.14 percent to 3,665 units
Buick sales decreased 12 percent to 52,891 units:
- Buick Cascada sales decreased 31.74 percent to 1,374 units
- Buick Enclave sales increased 25.37 percent to 12,551 units
- Buick Encore sales increased 4.11 percent to 23,167 units, marking the model’s best-ever second quarter and first half sales performance
- Buick Envision sales decreased 48.08 percent to 7,118 units
- Buick LaCrosse sales decreased 44.65 percent to 4,053 units
- Buick Regal sales increased 42 percent to 4,507 units
- Buick Verano sales decreased 92.57 percent to 121 units; the model has been discontinued and has not been replaced in the North American market
GMC sales decreased 6.6 percent to 138,163 units:
- GMC Acadia sales decreased 25.2 percent to 20,108 units
- GMC Canyon sales increased 30.89 percent to 9,635 units
- GMC Savana sales decreased 28.14 percent to 7,167 units
- GMC Sierra sales increased 20.39 percent to 59,406 units
- GMC Terrain sales increased 15.16 percent to 22,327 units, marking the model’s best-ever first half sales performance
- GMC Yukon sales increased 17.5 totaled to 19.520 units
- GM no longer breaks out sales of the regular-wheelbase Yukon vs. the extended-wheelbase Yukon XL, with all Yukon sales now being reported on the single Yukon line
- For this reason, Yukon XL sales show a 100 percent drop to 0 units
In the first six months of 2018, GM U.S. sales increased 4.2 percent to 1,474,170 units.
Sales Results - Q2 2018 - USA - Chevrolet
MODEL | Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOLT EV | -22.60% | 3,483 | 4,500 | +3.50% | 7,858 | 7,592 |
CAMARO | -36.11% | 13,588 | 21,269 | -30.59% | 25,380 | 36,567 |
COLORADO | +46.78% | 41,016 | 27,943 | +38.91% | 69,875 | 50,301 |
CORVETTE | -26.80% | 5,785 | 7,903 | -25.28% | 10,242 | 13,707 |
CRUZE | -26.20% | 37,836 | 51,265 | -26.14% | 77,691 | 105,188 |
EQUINOX | +4.55% | 73,967 | 70,745 | +17.17% | 156,365 | 133,454 |
EXPRESS | +8.43% | 21,413 | 19,749 | +17.18% | 41,187 | 35,148 |
IMPALA | +46.34% | 13,595 | 9,290 | -11.66% | 27,662 | 31,312 |
LOW CAB FORWARD | * | 756 | * | * | 1,286 | 0 |
MALIBU | -13.55% | 42,267 | 48,894 | -8.92% | 76,417 | 83,899 |
OTHER | * | 1,078 | * | * | 2,741 | * |
SILVERADO | +15.66% | 155,529 | 134,473 | +10.70% | 291,074 | 262,940 |
SONIC | -55.68% | 4,582 | 10,338 | -41.17% | 10,565 | 17,958 |
SPARK | +115.38% | 4,454 | 2,068 | +23.79% | 11,399 | 9,208 |
SUBURBAN | +32.10% | 15,136 | 11,458 | +19.91% | 29,861 | 24,903 |
TAHOE | +20.24% | 26,880 | 22,356 | +12.25% | 50,523 | 45,009 |
TRAVERSE | +30.02% | 35,892 | 27,606 | +30.08% | 74,090 | 56,958 |
TRAX | +42.74% | 26,507 | 18,570 | +27.23% | 46,989 | 36,931 |
VOLT | -19.24% | 4,336 | 5,369 | -28.52% | 7,814 | 10,932 |
CHEVROLET TOTAL | +6.22% | 528,100 | 497,155 | +5.18% | 1,019,019 | 968,878 |
Sales Results - Q2 2018 - USA - Cadillac
MODEL | Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATS | -2.02% | 3,785 | 3,863 | +7.46% | 7,747 | 7,209 |
CT6 | -18.91% | 2,427 | 2,993 | -9.32% | 4,894 | 5,397 |
CTS | +2.60% | 2,640 | 2,573 | +0.45% | 5,082 | 5,059 |
ELR | -100.00% | 0 | 9 | -100.00% | 0 | 14 |
ESCALADE | +64.85% | 9,655 | 5,857 | +74.91% | 17,766 | 10,157 |
ESCALADE ESV | -100.00% | 0 | 3,718 | -100.00% | 0 | 6,923 |
SRX | -88.10% | 5 | 42 | -95.21% | 7 | 146 |
XT5 | +4.29% | 17,045 | 16,344 | +7.02% | 31,890 | 29,798 |
XTS | +36.14% | 3,665 | 2,692 | +16.19% | 8,563 | 7,370 |
CADILLAC TOTAL | +2.97% | 39,222 | 38,091 | +5.38% | 75,949 | 72,073 |
Sales Results - Q2 2018 - USA - Buick
MODEL | Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CASCADA | -31.74% | 1,374 | 2,013 | -33.66% | 2,292 | 3,455 |
ENCLAVE | +25.37% | 12,551 | 10,011 | +15.28% | 22,420 | 19,448 |
ENCORE | +4.11% | 23,167 | 22,252 | +14.89% | 48,635 | 42,331 |
ENVISION | -48.08% | 7,118 | 13,710 | -25.67% | 16,814 | 22,620 |
LACROSSE | -44.65% | 4,053 | 7,323 | -9.66% | 11,119 | 12,308 |
REGAL | +42.00% | 4,507 | 3,174 | +26.74% | 8,215 | 6,482 |
VERANO | -92.57% | 121 | 1,628 | -94.55% | 200 | 3,672 |
BUICK TOTAL | -12.01% | 52,891 | 60,111 | -0.56% | 109,695 | 110,316 |
Sales Results - Q2 2018 - USA - GMC
MODEL | Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACADIA | -25.20% | 20,108 | 26,883 | -10.69% | 50,008 | 55,995 |
CANYON | +30.89% | 9,635 | 7,361 | +13.16% | 16,848 | 14,888 |
SAVANA | -28.14% | 7,167 | 9,973 | -28.53% | 11,964 | 16,740 |
SIERRA | +20.39% | 59,406 | 49,343 | +1.74% | 100,874 | 99,153 |
TERRAIN | +15.16% | 22,327 | 19,387 | +30.89% | 55,291 | 42,242 |
YUKON | +104.55% | 19,520 | 9,543 | +76.79% | 34,522 | 19,527 |
YUKON XL | -100.00% | 0 | 7,074 | -100.00% | 0 | 14,630 |
GMC TOTAL | +6.64% | 138,163 | 129,564 | +2.41% | 269,507 | 263,175 |
Sales Results - Q2 2018 - USA - GM Totals
BRAND | Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET TOTAL | +6.22% | 528,100 | 497,155 | +5.18% | 1,019,019 | 968,878 |
CADILLAC TOTAL | +2.97% | 39,222 | 38,091 | +5.38% | 75,949 | 72,073 |
BUICK TOTAL | -12.01% | 52,891 | 60,111 | -0.56% | 109,695 | 110,316 |
GMC TOTAL | +6.64% | 138,163 | 129,564 | +2.41% | 269,507 | 263,175 |
GM USA TOTAL | +4.61% | 758,376 | 724,921 | +4.22% | 1,474,170 | 1,414,442 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM Q2 2017 sales, except as noted
- There were 77 selling days in Q2 2018 and 77 selling days in Q2 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. Upon discontinuing the City Express, GM stopped reporting sales of the model.
- GM Vehicle Total includes discontinued Verano, ELR, SRX, Caprice, Captiva Sport, City Express and SS. GM refused to break out sales for these models upon request. We have broken out sales results of these discontinued models where possible. When doing so was not possible, we bundled these models into the “other” line item, per brand.
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
- Q2 2018 GM sales results:
- U.S. GM Q2 2018 sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Buick sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 GMC sales results
- GM Canada Q2 2018 sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Cadillac sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Buick sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 GMC sales results
- GM China Q2 2018 sales results
- GM Korea Q2 2018 sales results:
- Chevrolet Korea Q2 2018 sales results
- Cadillac Korea Q2 2018 sales results
- U.S. GM Q2 2018 sales results
Comments
@ ALEX LUFT. The numbers for the Colorado look wrong. 41016 for Q2. 13672 for YTD 2018.
Despite what other automakers are doing, sedans still look to be an important part of GMs sales figures, particularly with Chevy. Malibu YTD is still greater than all Cadillac sales. Same goes for the Cruze. While GM can pull back on the number of sedans they offer, I don’t see it necessary to totally abandon the sedan market like Ford.
It is not just how many you sell but how much you made on each unit sold.
In today’s market it is becoming more important to make more money than just sell a ton of cars.
GM went bankrupt yet still was moving millions of cars.
Those few Cadillacs may have brought in 75% more profit per unit than the Malibu, Cruze and Impala per unit.
The CUV/ SUV see similar profit over Cars.
Many people will pay more for the SUV than about most any car. And much of that increased ATP is profit for GM.
Elaine Buckberg certainly doesn’t spit.
Wasn’t GM selling roughly twice as many vehicles as Ford in the not too distant past? GM six months, 1,474,170, Ford six months, 1,277,691.
Let me tell U why I haven’t traded my CTS-V for a CT6… Because I know that a CT6 VSport is coming in about 6 months. Knowing the market.. and that the majority of S-Class sales are 550 4matic.. that 7series sales are 750i… Why would I get a V6 when I could have had a V8 Caddy? Seriously. My desire is to come as close to what I have right now in the LT4 but in a larger body. 627lbs of torque, 550HP more size, and a most likely, identical curb weight of my V.. PLUS AWD.. its a no brainer
I love hearing people say GM is dying or going bankrupt again! Sales are up, transaction prices are up, and the future looks bright!
Ford not so much
Will there be incentives for 2019? We want to buy a Corvette.