GM Sales Performance - September 2004

Industry selling rate up versus year-ago: The cumulative selling rate for the industry during September was 17.9 million units (7.4 million cars and 10.5 million trucks). Performance increased significantly compared to last September's selling rate of 17.1 million units (7.5 million cars and 9.6 million trucks). This was the second-highest industry SAAR for the calendar year. Industry sales for the month were up 6.1 percent, slightly above GM's expectations. Calendar year-to-date sales were up 1.8 percent.

• GM's September sales were up 20 percent compared to year-ago levels. Truck sales were up 32.5 percent and car sales improved 3 percent. Third-quarter sales rose 2 percent. September sales were very good, both in total and in terms of sales mix. GM picked up its sales pace in the third quarter, compared to first-half sales

• GM achieved all-time industry truck sales in September. Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick trucks all set new monthly sales records. GM led the industry in truck sales with over 76,500 more deliveries for the month than its nearest competitor. Through the first nine months of the year, GM established more than a 422,000-unit sales lead.

• GM also set an industry record for full-size pickup sales in September. This is the eighth consecutive month that sales of GM full-size pickups led the industry. With 108,742 deliveries in September, GM widened its lead over the competition to more than 53,500 units for the year. The combined September sales of Chevrolet Silverado and Avalanche and GMC Sierra accounted for 42 percent of the segment.

• GM's sport utility vehicle sales in September also set an industry record. SUV sales improved 35 percent compared to year-ago levels, surpassing the 100,000-unit sales mark for the sixth month this year (134,819) and continuing its industry leadership. Third-quarter utility sales gained 12 percent, also a record. GM remains on a record pace for utility sales in 2004. Small utility deliveries established a new September record with a 109 percent increase in sales compared to last year.

• GM car sales were up 3 percent compared to year-ago levels. Cadillac CTS established new monthly and third-quarter sales records. Chevrolet Malibu sales were up 144 percent in September and 123 percent in the third quarter.

• Best-selling GM trucks: GM ranked eight trucks on the industry's Top 20 best-selling truck list for September: Chevrolet Silverado (#2), Chevrolet TrailBlazer (#5), GMC Sierra (#6), Chevrolet Tahoe (#7), GMC Envoy (#10), Chevrolet Suburban (#12), Chevrolet Colorado (#14) and Chevrolet Equinox (#18).

• Best-selling GM cars: GM ranked seven cars on the industry's Top 20 best-selling car list for September: Chevrolet Impala (#2), Chevrolet Cavalier (#7), Chevrolet Malibu (#8), Pontiac Grand Am (#11), Buick LeSabre (#13), Pontiac Grand Prix (#14), and Saturn ION (#16).

• Cadillac continued its record-setting truck sales pace in September with a 28 percent improvement over year-ago levels.
• Escalade ESV sales were up 23 percent, a new monthly record.
• SRX deliveries were 2,439.
• Cadillac's third-quarter sales improved 9 percent, and third-quarter truck sales rose 51 percent.

• Chevrolet sales in September were up 36 percent, led by very strong truck sales, which improved 37 percent.
• Equinox had its best sales month since launch with 12,126 deliveries, a 41 percent improvement over August.
• TrailBlazer sales set a new monthly record with a 57 percent gain.
• Colorado posted its best sales since introduction (12,493).
• Malibu sales were up 144 percent in September and 123 percent in the third quarter.
• Corvette set a new monthly sales record.
• Chevrolet's third-quarter sales were up 8 percent; car sales increased 20 percent in the third quarter.

• GMC had record September sales and its third-best month ever.
• Canyon had its best sales month since launch.
• Sales of the Envoy family set an all-time record.
• Yukon and Yukon XL Denali set September sales records.
• Sierra had its best-ever September and its second-best month ever.
• GMC large utility sales were up 10 percent versus last September.
• GMC's large utility share is up 1.5 points for the calendar year-to-date, despite new competitors entering the segment.

• GTO had its highest sales since launch (2,678).
• Bonneville GXP accounted for 26 percent of Bonneville retail sales.

• Ion sales increased 29.5 percent compared to last September.

• Truck sales were up 45 percent in September, with Rainier posting its best sales since launch (3,338).
• Third-quarter truck sales rose 30 percent.

Sept. '04 CYTD % Chg. vs. Sept. '03

GM Certified Used Vehicles 36,854 #9; 328,723 +15 percent

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned 9; 3,301 ; 26,609 +24 percent 9;

Used Cars from Saturn 9; 2,811 ; 30,304 +4 percent

Saab Certified Pre-Owned #9; 646 #9; 6,720 -26 percent

• GM Certified Used Vehicles continued to lead the certified pre-owned category in sales, with 328,723 units sold for the calendar year-to-date, up 11 percent from the same period in 2003.
• GM certified pre-owned sales for all GM brands were 392,356 units through September, up 10 percent.
• GM's certified brands' share of the certified used market increased 1.8 points to 33.3 percent for the calendar year-to-date.
• GM Certified Used Vehicles led all brands in the certified pre-owned segment with a 27.8 percent share for the calendar year-to-date, up 1.5 points.

"With Oprah's car giveaway all over the news last week, GM got exactly the payoff it wanted: a blockbuster debut. And that's the real hot ticket now in Detroit. As the car market fragments into a dizzying array of 324 models, Motown is stealing a few tricks from Tinseltown."