U.S. GM Sales Increase 4 Percent To 642,250 Units In First Quarter 2021

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GM sales increased by 4 percent to 642,250 units during the first quarter of 2021 in the United States market. Sales increased at Buick, Cadillac and GMC brands, while decreasing at Chevrolet.

“Over the last year, our dealers, supply chain and manufacturing teams have gone above and beyond to satisfy customers as demand for GM products rose sharply,” said Steve Carlisle, GM executive vice president and president, North America. “The great teamwork continues. Sales are off to a strong start in 2021, we are operating our truck and full-size SUV plants at full capacity and we plan to recover lost car and crossover production in the second half of the year where possible,” he added.

GM Sales Notes – U.S. Q1 2021

  • Total GM sales during Q1 2021 increased 4 percent to 642,250 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)
    • GM ended the quarter with 334,628 units in inventory, down 76,247 units from the end of the fourth quarter of 2020
    • GM’s incentives as a percent of transaction prices were 11.2 percent during the first quarter, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates
    • The company set a first-quarter record with average transaction prices at $40,353
  • Gains were driven by full-size SUV sales (up 132 percent), Silverado medium-duty pickup sales (up 155 percent) and large vans (up 45 percent)
  • The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon also increased sales by a combined 58 percent
  • The all-new Cadillac Escalade saw a 127 percent year-over-year increase in retail deliveries, and its segment share was 8 percentage points higher than the closest competitor (J.D. Power)
  • Retail sales of Cadillac’s crossovers and all-new luxury sedans were also exceptionally strong with the XT4 up 30 percent, the XT5 up 15 percent, the XT6 up 22 percent and the CT5 up 60 percent
  • GM estimates the U.S. retail SAAR in the first quarter of 2021 was 14.6 million units and the total U.S. light vehicle SAAR was 16.7 million units

Brand & Model Sales

Chevrolet sales decreased 1.7 percent to 427,950 units:

Cadillac sales increased 22.9 percent to 37,277 units:

Buick sales increased 35.2 percent to 45,784 units:

GMC sales increased 10.5 percent to 131,239 units:

  • GMC Acadia sales increased 12.84 percent to 19,956 units
  • GMC Canyon sales increased 59.36 percent to 7,144 units
  • GMC Savana sales increased 39.81 percent to 5,847 units
  • GMC Sierra sales increased 18.69 percent to 62,917 units
    • Sierra 1500 sales increased 13.6 percent to 45,257 units
    • Sierra HD (2500HD, 3500HD) sales increased 34.1 percent to 17,660 units
  • GMC Terrain sales decreased 33.11 percent to 16,917 units
  • GMC Yukon sales increased 31.22 percent to 18,458 units
    • GMC Yukon XL sales are included in this line item

Sales Results - Q1 2021 - USA - Chevrolet

MODELQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
BLAZER-13.00% 19,26522,144
BOLT EV+53.67% 9,0255,873
CAMARO-1.34% 7,0897,185
COLORADO+12.38% 24,08321,430
CORVETTE+73.06% 6,6113,820
EQUINOX-13.93% 63,21873,453
EXPRESS+26.81% 16,87713,309
IMPALA-90.69% 4624,965
LOW CAB FORWARD+10.38% 957867
MALIBU-23.51% 26,98735,283
SILVERADO-12.54% 126,591144,734
SONIC-75.47% 1,0654,341
SPARK+23.02% 11,5059,352
SUBURBAN+17.36% 11,1439,495
TAHOE+12.91% 23,03820,403
TRAILBLAZER+834,033.00% 25,0243
TRAVERSE+26.39% 38,03730,095
TRAX-39.97% 16,95528,242
CHEVROLET TOTAL-1.72% 427,950435,422

Sales Results - Q1 2021 - USA - Cadillac

MODELQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
CT4+6,305.78% 2,62741
CT5+45.80% 4,3743,000
ESCALADE+75.13% 9,8425,620
XT4+5.66% 5,4545,162
XT5-2.77% 8,7739,023
XT6+18.05% 5,9905,074
CADILLAC TOTAL+22.93% 37,27730,325

Sales Results - Q1 2021 - USA - Buick

MODELQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
ENCLAVE+21.31% 10,6178,752
ENCORE-56.25% 6,22914,238
ENCORE GX+608.77% 18,4352,601
ENVISION+51.12% 10,4766,932
BUICK TOTAL+35.18% 45,78433,870

Sales Results - Q1 2021 - USA - GMC

MODELQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
ACADIA+12.84% 19,95617,686
CANYON+59.36% 7,1444,483
SAVANA+39.81% 5,8474,182
SIERRA+18.69% 62,91753,009
TERRAIN-33.11% 16,91725,292
YUKON-15.53% 11,88214,066
YUKON XL* 6,576*
GMC TOTAL+10.55% 131,239118,718

Sales Results - Q1 2021 - USA - GM Totals

BRANDQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
CHEVROLET TOTAL-1.72% 427,950435,422
CADILLAC TOTAL+22.93% 37,27730,325
BUICK TOTAL+35.18% 45,78433,870
GMC TOTAL+10.55% 131,239118,718
GM USA TOTAL+3.87% 642,250618,335

Chevrolet Silverado Sales Detail - Q1 2021 - USA

ModelQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
Total-12.5%126,591144,734
Silverado LD-19.7%90,705112,925
Silverado HD+10.5%33,99930,773
Silverado MD+82.1%1,8871,036

GMC Sierra Sales Detail - Q1 2021 - USA

ModelQ1 2021 / Q1 2020Q1 2021Q1 2020
Total+18.7%62,91753,009
Sierra LD+13.6%45,25739,841
Sierra HD+34.1%17,66013,168

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GM sales for Q1 2020, unless noted otherwise
  • There were 74 selling days in Q1 2021 and 76 selling days in Q1 2020

Further Reading & Sales Reporting

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    • — Deivis Centeno

    Deivis is an engineer with a passion for cars and the global auto business. He is constantly investigating about GM's future products.

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    24 Comments

    1. Guestt says:
      April 1, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      For the TB sales “De Kia is better”…..😉

      Reply
      • Alex Luft says:
        April 1, 2021 at 1:40 pm

        We know exactly who you’re talking about 🙂

        Another one of his/her’s lines is…
        “Da Kia is better because it has more horsepowa.”

        Reply
        • h4cksaw says:
          April 1, 2021 at 4:14 pm

          It’s a typical lowercase gm hype article. The small growth compared to the previous Covid effected 2020 first quarter is nothing to get excited about… Quite the opposite really.

          According to the NY Times “G.M. said on Thursday that it sold 642,250 cars and light trucks in the first three months of the year, up just 4 percent even though sales a year ago slowed sharply as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

          By contrast, Toyota Motor showed a strong rebound in sales compared with a year ago. The Japanese company reported that sales in North America jumped 22 percent in the first three months of 2021, to 603,066 cars and light trucks. Its March sales were a record high for that month.”

          Sounds like lowercase gm is losing more and more market share. How’s that BEV push working out for Mary Antoinette Barra and her cronies?

          Reply
          • Peter G. says:
            April 2, 2021 at 4:54 am

            Chevy TrailBlazer 25,024
            Kia Seltos 16,786
            Toyota CH-R 10,401
            Da Kia is Better….Den Da Toy-oh-duh.

            Reply
            • h4cksaw says:
              April 2, 2021 at 11:15 am

              Yeah ok, TB sold 25k units in the first quarter according to gm. The Corolla sold 73k units in Q1 and 31k units in March alone. 32k Camrys in March alone. Q1 small SUV sales Rav4 114k to Equinox and Terrain combined sales of just 80k. These segments exist and lowercase gm would be wise to address the gaping holes in their lineup. Every customer they lose is one they might never get back.

              Reply
              • Peter G. says:
                April 2, 2021 at 6:34 pm

                h4cksaw
                GM: 642,250 > Toyota: 603,066

                Reply
                • h4cksaw says:
                  April 2, 2021 at 7:09 pm

                  2020 worldwide sales Toyota 9.5 million > lowercase gm 6.8 million. lowercase gm market share is not only slipping in it’s native country, but also globally, including China. Keep thinking on a small scale though. The United States has officially squandered 60 years of competitive advantage. Glad there are still a few nations, like Japan, that can uphold their societies to a higher standard and produce meaningful products with a sense of pride. Mary Antionette Barra will put your money in her pocket and give you hollow words in exchange.

                  Reply
                  • Peter G. says:
                    April 2, 2021 at 7:30 pm

                    Toyota includes micro Kei cars with engines smaller than 600cc. GM doesn’t build anything smaller than the Chevy Spark.
                    ATPs matter.

                    Reply
          • Guestt says:
            April 2, 2021 at 6:47 am

            Here he is!! (applause)

            Reply
            • Peter G. says:
              April 2, 2021 at 7:21 am

              Guest
              If the Chevy Volt was the Obama Car, KIA would have to be the Trump brand. By that I mean vehicles that won’t make it more than 4 years.

              Reply
              • Steve Colmar says:
                April 2, 2021 at 1:51 pm

                Volt was designed under Bush and came to market under Obama.
                Gotta love how Obama haters can twist reality. R&D for Volt took years and n ou t part of one president’s term.

                Reply
        • eyexist says:
          April 1, 2021 at 6:04 pm

          wHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

          Reply
    2. Sigurd says:
      April 1, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      Good Q1 for Escalade, Encore GX, Envision, Bolt EV and Vette!
      Terrible for Silverado! Outsold again by RAM.

      Reply
    3. budlar says:
      April 1, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      Dealers are all smiles as the next victim walks in the door,all the better if they click the buy now button from home, no salesman’s commission to pay and if you have a trade expect to see it up for sale at least a 100% mark-up and people wonder why transaction prices are at record levels and dealer profits also.

      Reply
    4. Paul says:
      April 1, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      I think part of the lower Silverado sales volume might have to do with supply issues. My local Chevy dealer has less than 10 in stock. Normally they have 40 or 50.

      Reply
    5. Sds61 says:
      April 2, 2021 at 7:32 am

      As a gm enthusiast, and ct4 owner, it’s concerning that they sold only 39,184 more cars than Toyota in q1 2021as compared to 122,588 more cars than Toyota in q12020. The 35%drop in fleet sales may be the reason.

      Reply
      • h4cksaw says:
        April 2, 2021 at 11:46 am

        lowercase gm enthusiasts, owners, and investors should tread very carefully with Mary Antionette Barra and her money hungry cronies running the show.

        Reply
        • GMC Fan says:
          April 2, 2021 at 1:19 pm

          So, if you were in charge, you’d spend billions on shrinking, non-profitable segments just so the company could have something in every segment. Is Roger Smith your grand dad and you want to follow his playbook?

          Fortunately Mary Barra is not following the past leaders and she’s taking the company down the road to an exciting future where they are hoping to lead the industry. That’s fine if you don’t like it. But quit making everyone suffer through your endless ranting. The world is going to pass you by and you’ll be stuck in the past just like you are now.

          Reply
          • h4cksaw says:
            April 2, 2021 at 7:29 pm

            I’m literally pouring out statistics imploring gm enthusiast to read the writing on the wall. I’m clearly not looking at the past, I’m looking towards a brighter future for gm and the United States. Hemorrhaging good paying jobs to other countries and having a few cronies at the top pocket the profits is NOT sustainable. Typically not a great way to build a brighter future. If lowercase gm only wants to produce niche high profit vehicles that’s great, but it’s definitely not the best way to build a consumer base, gain market share, establish brand loyalty, and increase sales volume. Funny how quick everyone is to forget the vehicles that saved gm after the bailouts, it wasn’t high profit trucks or BEVs, it was built in the US entry level vehicles like the Cruze, Sonic, and second gen Equinox.

            Reply
    6. Steve Colmar says:
      April 2, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      I don’t know one GM fan. People look at me cross eyed for loving TourX. Or praising Malibu as good as Camry. Of the Detroit brands FCA, Stellantis, gets the most respect and everyone’s overall favorites are Honda, Subaru and Toyota with German brands getting props.
      Even I must admit Stellantis does fantastic interiors that make Buick and Cadillac look piss poor.
      GM runs great margins because they use cheap looking pladtic.

      Reply
    7. Tom says:
      April 2, 2021 at 9:58 pm

      Nothing to crow about.
      Again RAM kicked Chevy ass..
      What has happened at GM SAD

      Reply

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