General Motors Company reported 785,229 new vehicle deliveries for the fourth quarter of 2018 in the U.S. market, a 2.7 percent decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. Sales increased at GMC while decreased at Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick.
“We have built the most successful pickup, SUV and crossover business in the industry and we gained considerable momentum in the fourth quarter of 2018 as dealers began delivering the all-new Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Cadillac XT4,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “We feel confident heading into 2019 because we have more major truck and crossover launches coming during the year and the U.S. economy is strong,” he added.
GM Sales Notes – U.S. Q4 2018
Sale types:
- Total GM Q4 2018 sales decreased 2.7 percent to 785,229 units
- GM did not provide any information on retail vs. fleet deliveries, a significant and notable departure from the way it reported previously (on a monthly basis), and the way in which it promised to continue to report after switching to quarterly reporting.
- However, GM did provide the following information:
- Fleet deliveries decreased 4 percent for the quarter
- Retail mix was 80 percent for the quarter
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) & Incentive Spending:
- Average Transaction Prices (ATPs) were a record $36,974 in the fourth quarter,, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates
- Incentive spending as a percent of ATP for the fourth quarter were 12.7 percent, down 1.0 percentage point year over year, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates
Inventory:
- Year-end 2018 inventory was 755,000 units, essentially equal to a year ago.
SAAR:
- GM estimates that the light vehicle SAAR in the fourth quarter was 17.7 million units
Brand & Model Sales
Chevrolet sales decreased 3.2 percent to 531,985 units:
- Chevrolet Blazer sales totaled 27 units
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales decreased 30.94 percent to 6,212 units
- Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 21.66 percent to 11,135 units
- Chevrolet Colorado sales increased 0.14 percent to 30,004 units
- Chevrolet Corvette sales decreased 36.81 percent to 3,910 units
- Chevrolet Cruze sales decreased 7.21 percent to 32,955 units
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 26.4 percent to 98,239 units
- Chevrolet Express sales increased 46.99 percent to 22,543 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 49.85 percent to 12,604 units
- Chevrolet Low Cab Forward sales totaled 940 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 17.03 percent to 37,084 units
- Chevrolet Silverado sales decreased 3.64 percent to 161,178 units
- Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased 55.71 percent to 2,765 units
- Chevrolet Spark sales decreased 40.89 percent to 5,174 units
- Chevrolet Suburban sales decreased 13.42 percent to 15,200 units
- Chevrolet Tahoe sales decreased 17.33 percent to 24,679 units
- Chevrolet Traverse sales increased 14.13 percent to 39,536 units
- Chevrolet Trax sales increased 16.48 percent to 22,378 units
- Chevrolet Volt sales increased 1.24 percent to 5,063 units
Cadillac sales decreased 2.7 percent to 41,462 units:
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 79.99 percent to 571 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales decreased 29.01 percent to 1,714 units
- Cadillac CTS sales decreased 25.89 percent to 1,660 units
- Cadillac Escalade sales decreased 10.94 percent to 6,393 units
- Cadillac XT4 sales totaled 7,573 units
- Cadillac XT5 sales decreased 50.83 percent to 9,083 units
- Cadillac XTS sales decreased 5.4 percent to 5,063 units
Buick sales decreased 13.7 percent to 51,257 units:
- Buick Cascada sales decreased 30.56 percent to 743 units
- Buick Enclave sales decreased 15.93 percent to 14,420 units
- Buick Encore sales increased 0.23 percent to 23,326 units
- Buick Envision sales decreased 28.79 percent to 7,535 units
- Buick LaCrosse sales decreased 53.21 percent to 2,118 units
- Buick Regal sales increased 21.06 percent to 3,110 units
- Buick Verano sales decreased 97.8 percent to 5 units
GMC sales increased 3.5 percent to 160,525 units:
- GMC Acadia sales decreased 11.83 percent to 25,128 units
- GMC Canyon sales decreased 6.99 percent to 8,219 units
- GMC Savana sales decreased 47.29 percent to 2,905 units
- GMC Sierra sales increased 6.06 percent to 67,312 units
- GMC Terrain sales increased 65.04 percent to 31,595 units
- GMC Yukon sales increased 47 percent to 25,366 units
In the complete 2018 calendar year, GM U.S. sales decreased 1.6 percent to 2,954,037 units.
Sales Results - Q4 2018 - USA - Chevrolet
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLAZER | * | 27 | * | * | 27 | 0 |
| BOLT EV | -30.94% | 6,212 | 8,995 | -22.66% | 18,019 | 23,297 |
| CAMARO | -21.66% | 11,135 | 14,213 | -24.99% | 50,963 | 67,940 |
| COLORADO | +0.14% | 30,004 | 29,962 | +19.33% | 134,842 | 112,996 |
| CORVETTE | -36.81% | 3,910 | 6,188 | -25.07% | 18,791 | 25,079 |
| CRUZE | -7.21% | 32,955 | 35,517 | -22.81% | 142,617 | 184,751 |
| EQUINOX | +26.40% | 98,239 | 77,723 | +14.52% | 332,618 | 290,458 |
| EXPRESS | +46.99% | 22,543 | 15,336 | +17.46% | 81,239 | 69,164 |
| IMPALA | -49.85% | 12,604 | 25,134 | -25.46% | 56,556 | 75,877 |
| LOW CAB FORWARD | * | 940 | * | * | 2,810 | 0 |
| MALIBU | -17.03% | 37,084 | 44,695 | -22.23% | 144,542 | 185,857 |
| OTHER | * | 359 | * | * | 3,661 | 0 |
| SILVERADO | -3.64% | 161,178 | 167,274 | -0.05% | 585,581 | 585,864 |
| SONIC | -55.71% | 2,765 | 6,243 | -31.95% | 20,613 | 30,290 |
| SPARK | -40.89% | 5,174 | 8,753 | +4.48% | 23,602 | 22,589 |
| SUBURBAN | -13.42% | 15,200 | 17,557 | +7.28% | 60,633 | 56,516 |
| TAHOE | -17.33% | 24,679 | 29,852 | +5.25% | 104,153 | 98,961 |
| TRAVERSE | +14.13% | 39,536 | 34,642 | +18.65% | 146,534 | 123,506 |
| TRAX | +16.48% | 22,378 | 19,212 | +13.40% | 89,916 | 79,289 |
| VOLT | +1.24% | 5,063 | 5,001 | -10.04% | 18,306 | 20,349 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -3.22% | 531,985 | 549,691 | -1.45% | 2,036,023 | 2,065,883 |
Sales Results - Q4 2018 - USA - Cadillac
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS | -70.87% | 831 | 2,853 | -17.11% | 10,859 | 13,100 |
| CT5 | * | 0 | * | * | 0 | 0 |
| CT6 | -0.66% | 2,398 | 2,414 | -8.29% | 9,668 | 10,542 |
| CTS | +9.02% | 2,442 | 2,240 | +8.46% | 11,219 | 10,344 |
| ESCALADE | +33.37% | 9,573 | 7,178 | +60.35% | 36,872 | 22,994 |
| ESCALADE ESV | -100.00% | 0 | 4,081 | -100.00% | 0 | 14,700 |
| XT4 | * | 7,573 | * | * | 7,785 | 0 |
| XT5 | -26.47% | 13,582 | 18,472 | -11.34% | 60,565 | 68,312 |
| XT6 | * | 0 | * | * | 0 | 0 |
| XTS | -5.40% | 5,063 | 5,352 | +8.92% | 17,727 | 16,275 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -2.66% | 41,462 | 42,594 | -1.11% | 154,702 | 156,440 |
Sales Results - Q4 2018 - USA - Buick
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADA | -30.56% | 743 | 1,070 | -26.08% | 4,136 | 5,595 |
| ENCLAVE | -15.93% | 14,420 | 17,153 | +2.23% | 49,647 | 48,564 |
| ENCORE | +0.23% | 23,326 | 23,272 | +5.72% | 93,073 | 88,035 |
| ENVISION | -28.79% | 7,535 | 10,582 | -26.53% | 30,152 | 41,040 |
| LACROSSE | -53.21% | 2,118 | 4,527 | -22.98% | 15,527 | 20,161 |
| REGAL | +21.06% | 3,110 | 2,569 | +22.14% | 14,118 | 11,559 |
| VERANO | -97.80% | 5 | 228 | -95.09% | 210 | 4,277 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -13.71% | 51,257 | 59,401 | -5.64% | 206,863 | 219,231 |
Sales Results - Q4 2018 - USA - GMC
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA | -11.83% | 25,128 | 28,498 | -20.68% | 88,621 | 111,726 |
| CANYON | -6.99% | 8,219 | 8,837 | +4.32% | 33,492 | 32,106 |
| SAVANA | -47.29% | 2,905 | 5,511 | -33.68% | 19,684 | 29,679 |
| SIERRA | +6.06% | 67,312 | 63,467 | +0.74% | 219,554 | 217,943 |
| TERRAIN | +65.04% | 31,595 | 19,144 | +33.79% | 114,314 | 85,441 |
| YUKON | +47.00% | 25,366 | 17,256 | +64.25% | 80,784 | 49,183 |
| YUKON XL | -100.00% | 0 | 12,340 | -100.00% | 0 | 35,059 |
| GMC TOTAL | +3.53% | 160,525 | 155,053 | -0.76% | 556,449 | 560,687 |
Sales Results - Q4 2018 - USA - GM Totals
| BRAND | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | -3.22% | 531,985 | 549,691 | -1.45% | 2,036,023 | 2,065,883 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | -2.66% | 41,462 | 42,594 | -1.11% | 154,702 | 156,440 |
| BUICK TOTAL | -13.71% | 51,257 | 59,401 | -5.64% | 206,863 | 219,231 |
| GMC TOTAL | +3.53% | 160,525 | 155,053 | -0.76% | 556,449 | 560,687 |
| GM USA TOTAL | -2.67% | 785,229 | 806,739 | -1.61% | 2,954,037 | 3,002,241 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM Q4 2017 sales, except if noted
- There were 77 selling days in Q4 2018 and 76 selling days in Q4 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 that model and began to report Low Cab Forward sales separately.
- Vehicle totals include discontinued models, possibly including 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
Comments
The cars that Barra canceled accounted for 286,000 sales in 2018.
That doesn’t count everything else she will cancel in 2019.
Take out the cars canceled by Cadillac and that leaves less than 100,000 units a year total sales. Pathetic excuse for a once great division.
Fun fact at Buick, Take out the Chinese, South Korean, and Polish made vehicles and total yearly sales there are less than a good month at Subaru!
Buick’s new motto: Make China Great Again!
Buick: The Geo division of the 2010s.
So why no photo of the “great leader” Miss Mary Barra on the article? I thought she was the fearless leader running this show?
Sales down
Profits down
Market share less
Fired 15,000 American workers after the AMERICAN people bailed GM out to the tune of $50 billion plus!
Banking on China and Mexico when Chinese economy about to collapse and auto makers moving back into the U.S….And Ford just cancelled a $1.6 billion auto plant in Mexico to instead hire Americans and build in the U.S.
Good job, Mary and GM! You should be so proud.
Chevy Express, 47% up?!
For the year Express is up 12k units but Savana is down 10k, so its pretty much a wash.
The geniuses at Ford and GM still impress me. Closing factories, discontinuing cars, having no loyalty to America or its workers. They will be going the way of Isuzu and Mitsubishi. No one will care. I don’t at this point, and I loved our American cars. Guess if they make it in China I won’t be buying their vehicles.
Buick sales overall and XT5 sales are a bit concerning…
XT5, looks like XT4 is in it’s lunch but better then buyers in other showrooms, Regal is on an upswing but will it be enough to save a good car (IMO kill the Cascada and add a Regal convertible if an Alpha based Cascada don’t take the current car’s place).
LOL just wait until the Sonic, Cruze, Impala, XTS, CT6, LaCrosse and Volt leave the lineup during 2019. And thanks for making the re-sale value of my 2017 Impala plummet as a result Mrs Barra. You will be re-paid in kind with the loss of at least 6 potential Chevy sedan sales as a result in addition to the thousands of lost sales you handed to the Asians.
When that happens GM’s ATPs and profit margins will shoot up. Its not all about sales numbers.
They sure weren’t worried about profi margins when peddling Chevys with employee pricing for most of December. I think the inference is sales numbers do matter!
Yes the sales numbers do matter. But there is plenty of profit margin in trucks and suvs so that even with incentives they’re still making a good profit. Not the same for cars which have very slim initial profit margins.
Look at the Sonic and Trax. Same platform, wheelbase, and FWD drivetrain, yet the Trax starts at almost 50% more MSRP. It does not cost GM 50% more to build the Trax. They’re basically the same car.
Will need those profit margins on pickups for incentives because Ram is about to stride by! Believe 50 k units difference for year and estimates I saw for December had Ram outselling Silverado.
Additionally Equinox has national incentive up to $4k right now. Fairly unusual in that market unless it is overpriced!
The XTS and CT6 is being replaced so no worries, one Chevy sedan is needed to fill the void of those dying cars (you know I’m gonna say Alpha based). Lacrosse?, wondering if an Cheaper Omega based Buick will take it’s place and at some point the Volt will be an CUV.
Replaced with what? The CT4 and CT 5 are not large sedans.
General Motors wastes a lot of money as they enter joint ventures with other car companies and do not produce a vehicle; a perfect example is a joint fuel cell program with Honda where GM hasn’t come close to developing a fuel cell vehicle of any type as Chevrolet could replace the 1.5L 4-cyl engine in the Volt with a fuel cell that converts gas to electric and be a green car as no greenhouse gas would be generated.
Get rid of Barra and her lame management team NOW
I guess closing 5 US plants , loss of direct and indirect job are inconsequential and irrelevant as long as GM can make bigger profits? Hooray, GM it doesn’t owe America anything.
It’s been almost 10 years since The Bankruptcy and still no good news from GM. You would think trying to recover from the brink of disaster they would provide the best in class offering to try and gain new customers and reassure current ones.
Instead they provide middle of the pack vehicles and leave their customers wondering if their vehicle of choice I’ll be avalable for long. I for one would be hesitant to purchase a GM product right now under current conditions of uncertainty. Even the pickups and Corvette which was once itself on the brink of being cancelled.
I love how every time sales numbers are released you can count on people to start posting “the secret to turning things around is a big rear drive Buick sedan, call it Park Avenue!” or “the secret to turning things around is a new luxury Cadillac coupe and it has to be called Eldorado!” The auto business is a business, you build what sells. All those hundreds of thousands of people buying Rogues, CR-Vs, RAV4s, and pickups aren’t doing so because they couldn’t get a Park Avenue. The market doesn’t even remotely want a new Buick sedan, they barely want a Cadillac sedan, and they increasingly don’t really want a BMW or Mercedes sedan. Sad fact of life right now. If Mary Barra deserves to get fired for anything, it’s lagging behind on Cadillac crossovers and the new pickups not being up to par….it’s definitely not because she cut some very slow-selling models rather than burn good money investing in life-support sedan segments. That’s one of the few cutting-edge moves they’ve made in recent years.
I thought GMs saving grace was to stick the 6.2 into every car and convert them all to RWD. At least thats what I read continuously in the comments section.
Why is it that over the years so many American company’s struggle to survive then are purchased by foreigners and thrive? If anyone out there have any idea why this is happing please let me know. We only have a few American owened company’s left and Insure would hate to see the two remaining Auto company’s be foriegn owned or simply replaced by foriegn vehicles.
It is because the people at the top of corporations are told not to worry about the community, shareholders, the country, but are taught to put as much money in their own pockets as quickly as possible and move on. Simple.