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GM SUV Sales Jump 26 Percent To 62,481 Units During Q1 2021

By Francisco Cruz

May 21, 2021 3:13 pm

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GM SUV sales rose 26 percent to 62,481 units in the United States during the first quarter of 2021.

All four full-size, body-on-frame GM SUV models – the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon (and Yukon XL) – experienced growth during Q1 2021. Notably, all four models are new for the 2021 model year, riding the all-new T1 platform and flaunting new exteriors and interiors.

Sales Numbers - GM SUV Sales - Q1 2021 - United States

MODEL Q1 21 / Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 20 Q1 21 SHARE Q1 20 SHARE
CHEVROLET TAHOE +12.91% 23,038 20,403 41% 41%
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN +17.36% 11,143 9,495 20% 19%
GMC YUKON -15.53% 11,882 14,066 21% 28%
CADILLAC ESCALADE +75.13% 9,842 5,620 18% 11%
TOTAL +12.75% 55,905 49,584

The Tahoe was the best-selling of all four models with 23,038 deliveries, while the Escalade led the group in terms of growth, posting the largest percentage increase of over 75 percent, enabling the luxury SUV to increase its segment share from 35 to 48 percent.

The Yukon followed with a gain of over 31 percent with 18,458 units sold, allowing the premium SUV to increase its segment share from 28 to 30 percent. The fifth-generation model welcomes the all-new 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 trim level, while for the first time ever offering a unique center stack on the range-topping Denali model.

The 23,038 Chevy Tahoe units sold reflect an increase of 13 percent, while the 11,143 Suburban units sold yielded an increase of over 17 percent. Both models continued to dominate the segment during the first quarter of 2021, accounting for a dominant 40 percent segment share.

The GM Authority Take

The market is reacting very favorably to the all-new GM SUV lineup, with every nameplate experiencing strong growth in sales volume. This feat is especially impressive given the obstacles caused by COVID-19 complications. In particular, the pandemic delayed the launch of the all-new models. GM seems to be managing through the ongoing microchip shortage for the time being, with the SUVs not currently impacted by the development.

Moving forward, we expect GM SUV sales to continue to grow as long as supply can keep up with demand. The news should also please investors, as the full-size SUVs are believed to be the most lucrative for The General. In fact, the 26 percent growth in full-size SUV sales in the U.S. enabled the Detroit-based automaker to post $3 billion in income on $32.5 billion in revenue.

The strong results were driven by $3.5K increase in per unit retail Average Transaction Prices primarily as a result of the launch of all-new full-size SUVs and strong vehicle pricing on full-size pickups due to tight inventory and strong product demand.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GM SUV sales for Q1 2020, unless noted otherwise
  • In the United States, there were 74 selling days in Q1 2021 and 76 selling days in Q1 2020
GM Q1 2021 sales reports:

Sales News

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By Francisco Cruz

A car-loving millennial. We Are!

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