GM's U.S. Sales up 11 percent for Best April in Five Years

Publisher's Note: During April 2013; Prospective Chevrolet buyers spent 13.1 hours doing in-depth research using the Chevrolet Buyers Guide, prospective Cadillac buyers spent 8.4 hours using the Cadillac Buyers Guide, prospective Buick buyers spent 8.4 hours using the Buick Buyers Guide, prospective GMC buyers spent 10.6 hours using the GMC Buyers Guide here on The Auto Channel

DETROIT--May 1, 2013: General Motors Co. sold 237,646 vehicles in the United States in April, up 11 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 10 percent, fleet sales were up 16 percent and the fleet mix was 28 percent of total sales.

“Car-buying conditions are strong and will continue to release pent-up demand,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “We’re very optimistic because GM’s market share is growing, the economy continues to move forward and important car and truck launches are just getting underway.”

Chevrolet dealers began receiving their first shipments of the all-new 2014 Impala in mid-April, and the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cabs will begin arriving in dealerships in the summer. Buick is launching redesigns of the Regal and LaCrosse in late summer and Cadillac will launch an all-new CTS luxury sedan in the fall.

April Highlights (vs. 2012)

All four GM brands posted higher total and retail sales: Crossovers were up 14 percent; trucks, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 17 percent; and car sales were up 6 percent. Large pickups were up 23 percent. Strong sales of the all-new Chevrolet Spark and double-digit sales increases for the Buick Verano , the Chevrolet Sonic and the Chevrolet Cruze drove a 31 percent increase in sales of GM mini, small and compact cars. The new Chevrolet Malibu achieved its best sales and retail segment share since launch. Calendar Year to Date Highlights (vs. 2012)

Cadillac was the industry’s fastest-growing brand in the first quarter, and April’s results bring the brand’s year-to-date sales increase to 37 percent. Through April, Buick total sales are up 23 percent. Retail sales are up 19 percent and have increased for 12 consecutive months. Sales to small business customers totaled 57,030 units, which is up 32 percent. Chevrolet had its best-ever year-to-date crossover sales, driven by a 14 percent increase for Equinox and an 18 percent increase for the redesigned Traverse. GM’s large pickup sales are up 21 percent and GM’s estimated retail segment share is up more than 1 percentage point and its total share is up almost a point. GM’s fleet mix is 26 percent.