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GM Reports October Sales of 346,058, Down 5 Percent

SUV Sales Remain On Record Selling Pace for Calendar Year
Cadillac On Pace for Best Sales Since 1990

DETROIT - General Motors dealers sold 346,058 new cars and trucks in October, down 5 percent compared to year-ago sales. GM's truck sales (210,996) were down 4 percent and car sales (135,062) were down 5 percent.

"GM's October sales results were not as strong as we had expected, but not entirely surprising given our exceptionally strong sales in September," said John Smith, group vice president GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Our launch vehicles performed well in October, as did utilities, which were up and remain on pace to set another industry record for the calendar year. We expect stronger car sales in the months ahead as Pontiac G6, Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Cobalt continue ramping up production."

GM Truck Sales

GM's truck sales in October declined 4 percent versus year-ago levels. Sport utility vehicle deliveries were up 1 percent and maintained their record-setting sales pace. GM again led the industry in utility sales in October, surpassing the 100,000-unit sales mark for the seventh month this year. October utility deliveries were led by strong sales of two new entries, the Chevrolet Equinox and Cadillac SRX. Mid-size utility sales increased 4 percent, with strong sales results for Chevrolet TrailBlazer, up 32 percent and GMC Envoy, which gained 29 percent.

Mid-size pickup deliveries increased 26 percent on the strength of the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. This is the second consecutive month that medium pickup sales were up 25 percent or more compared to year-ago levels.

GM Car Sales

While GM's total car sales declined 5 percent compared to last October, several vehicles had year-over-year increases including Cadillac XLR; Chevrolet Malibu, Impala, Corvette and Monte Carlo; Pontiac Bonneville; and Buick LeSabre. Additionally, Pontiac G6 and Cadillac STS sales are exceptionally brisk as production ramps up.

Divisional Highlights

Chevrolet - Chevrolet sales in October were up 4 percent compared to year-ago levels. Car sales increased 21 percent, paced by Malibu, which had a 157 percent sales increase over last year. Corvette sales rose 39 percent in October. On the truck side, in addition to Equinox and Colorado, TrailBlazer had record October sales, up 32 percent from year-ago levels. Total sales for the calendar year are up 5 percent, and car sales have risen 15 percent.

Cadillac - Cadillac sales remain on track for its best calendar year sales results since 1990. October sales were up 3 percent compared to year-ago levels. Truck sales continued on a record setting pace, improving 17 percent in October and 54 percent for the calendar year. SRX deliveries were up 115.5 percent, and Escalade ESV sales were up 24 percent. Total sales are up 9 percent calendar year-to-date.

GMC - In addition to solid Canyon sales, Envoy had another strong month with deliveries up 29 percent compared to last year. Despite being off last October's sales pace (-4 percent), GMC sales for the calendar year-to-date are up 6 percent. GMC remains poised to exceed 600,000 deliveries for the first time in its history.

Pontiac - While October sales were off 12 percent, Pontiac sales for the calendar year-to-date are up 5 percent. Car sales for the calendar year have improved 9 percent, led by Bonneville sales, which continued to improve year-over-year with a 33 percent sales increase in October and a 38 percent increase for the calendar year and Grand Prix, with deliveries up 15 percent for the calendar year.

Certified Used Vehicles

October sales for all GM certified used vehicle brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned, were 47,472, up 15 percent from last year. Year-to-date sales are 439,813, up 11 percent from the same period in 2003.

GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used brand, set a new monthly sales record for the certified category in October with 40,666 sales, up more than 16 percent compared to year-ago levels. This marks the first time any certified brand has surpassed the 40,000 mark in monthly certified used sales. GM Certified Used Vehicles continues to lead all certified pre-owned brands with 369,389 sales through October, an 11.5 percent increase over last year.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted 3,304 sales in October, up 22 percent. Used Cars from Saturn sold 2,796 units, down 1 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles had 706 sales, down 20 percent.

"With a record sales month in October, GM Certified Used Vehicles continues to expand its position as the industry's top-selling certified brand," Smith said. "GM Certified Used Vehicles sales were up 16 percent in October and more than 11 percent year-to-date, while Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned recorded an impressive 22 percent increase in October."

GM North America Reports October Production, Fourth-Quarter Forecast Revised to 1.27 Million Vehicles

In October, GM North America produced 453,000 vehicles (159,000 cars and 294,000 trucks) in North America, compared to 526,500 vehicles (207,500 cars and 319,000 trucks) produced in October 2003. Production totals include joint venture production of 23,000 vehicles in October 2004 and 14,000 vehicles in October 2003.

In addition, GM North America revised its fourth-quarter production forecast to 1.27 million vehicles (473,000 cars and 797,000 trucks), down 10,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, GM North America built 1.385 million vehicles (558,000 cars and 827,000 trucks). GM's North American current 2004 calendar year production forecast is 5.21 million vehicles, down 10,000 vehicles from last month's guidance.

GM also announced revised fourth-quarter production forecasts for its international regions:

GM Europe - The region's revised fourth-quarter forecast is 438,000 vehicles, down 10,000 vehicles from last month's guidance of 448,000 vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the region built 446,000 vehicles.

GM Asia Pacific - GM Asia Pacific's current fourth-quarter production forecast is 166,000 vehicles, down 1,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the region built 133,000 vehicles.

GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - The region's revised fourth-quarter forecast is 203,000 vehicles, up 10,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the region built 157,000 vehicles.

General Motors Corp. , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs about 325,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries, and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly 8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. < a href="http://media.gm.com/">http://media.gm.com

 

October

Calendar Year-to-Date
January - October

Curr S/D: 27

2004

2003

% Chg
per S/D

2004

2003

%Chg

Prev S/D: 27

Vehicle Total

346,058

363,043

-4.7

3,966,364

3,945,322

0.5

Car Total

135,062

142,669

-5.3

1,603,713

1,642,156

-2.3

Truck Total

210,996

220,374

-4.3

2,362,651

2,303,166

2.6

Light Truck Total

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

Light Vehicle Total

342,197

359,842

-4.9

3,926,928

3,912,120

0.4

Market Division
Vehicle Total

Buick

17,702

24,323

-27.2

266,881

282,090

-5.4

Cadillac

19,147

18,645

2.7

188,592

172,325

9.4

Chevrolet

208,274

200,311

4.0

2,316,471

2,207,250

4.9

GMC

45,111

46,821

-3.7

502,837

472,810

6.4

HUMMER

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Oldsmobile

630

9,872

-93.6

27,848

106,304

-73.8

Other - Isuzu

1,119

996

12.3

11,717

10,594

10.6

Pontiac

33,056

37,599

-12.1

410,862

389,800

5.4

Saab

3,371

3,349

0.7

32,286

40,808

-20.9

Saturn

15,094

17,970

-16.0

186,032

234,731

-20.7

Sales of Domestically Produced Vehicles

Car

125,158

139,320

-10.2

1,518,377

1,601,333

-5.2

Light Truck

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

Twenty-seven selling days for the October period this year and twenty-seven for last year.

 

2-1P
GM Car Deliveries - (United States)
October 2004

 

October

Calendar Year-to-Date
January - October

2004

2003

%Chg
per S/D

2004

2003

%Chg

Selling Days (S/D)

27

27

       

Century

2,264

6,618

-65.8

63,808

81,550

-21.8

LaCrosse

619

0

***.*

619

0

***.*

LeSabre

7,607

7,338

3.7

101,791

100,709

1.1

Park Avenue

938

2,498

-62.4

15,749

22,532

-30.1

Regal

337

1,910

-82.4

13,193

20,263

-34.9

Buick Total

11,765

18,364

-35.9

195,160

225,054

-13.3

Catera

0

0

***.*

0

15

***.*

CTS

3,798

3,844

-1.2

46,862

41,073

14.1

DeVille

5,024

6,818

-26.3

57,514

66,674

-13.7

Eldorado

0

4

***.*

7

192

-96.4

Seville

162

1,300

-87.5

3,225

15,884

-79.7

STS

2,308

0

***.*

3,542

0

***.*

XLR

320

241

32.8

3,067

326

840.8

Cadillac Total

11,612

12,207

-4.9

114,217

124,164

-8.0

Aveo

5,275

0

***.*

43,563

0

***.*

Camaro

0

20

***.*

127

1,092

-88.4

Cavalier

9,273

22,499

-58.8

172,554

216,534

-20.3

Classic

5,809

6,008

-3.3

79,473

30,999

156.4

Corvette

2,607

1,878

38.8

30,259

24,553

23.2

Impala

22,939

15,077

52.1

242,391

231,526

4.7

Lumina

0

0

***.*

0

15

***.*

Malibu

17,221

6,695

157.2

144,558

107,306

34.7

Metro

0

0

***.*

0

1

***.*

Monte Carlo

4,411

4,081

8.1

48,723

55,943

-12.9

Prizm

0

0

***.*

5

16

-68.8

SSR

707

86

722.1

7,947

87

***.*

Chevrolet Total

68,242

56,344

21.1

769,600

668,072

15.2

Alero

321

7,690

-95.8

19,425

81,894

-76.3

Aurora

5

104

-95.2

198

3,014

-93.4

Intrigue

0

25

***.*

55

776

-92.9

Oldsmobile Total

326

7,819

-95.8

19,678

85,684

-77.0

Bonneville

1,842

1,385

33.0

27,222

19,680

38.3

Firebird

0

24

***.*

109

900

-87.9

G6

4,167

0

***.*

5,091

0

***.*

Grand Am

7,119

11,130

-36.0

127,332

127,632

-0.2

Grand Prix

10,673

12,342

-13.5

112,707

98,302

14.7

GTO

1,258

0

***.*

9,487

0

***.*

Sunfire

1,804

3,586

-49.7

29,367

36,615

-19.8

Vibe

3,811

3,794

0.4

51,340

50,043

2.6

Pontiac Total

30,674

32,261

-4.9

362,655

333,172

8.8

9-2X

334

0

***.*

1,060

0

***.*

9-3

2,356

2,357

0.0

23,278

29,010

-19.8

9-5

681

992

-31.4

7,948

11,798

-32.6

Saab Total

3,371

3,349

0.7

32,286

40,808

-20.9

ION

8,269

8,860

-6.7

92,105

98,303

-6.3

Saturn L Series

803

3,291

-75.6

18,012

59,853

-69.9

Saturn S Series

0

174

***.*

0

7,046

***.*

Saturn Total

9,072

12,325

-26.4

110,117

165,202

-33.3

GM Total

135,062

142,669

-5.3

1,603,713

1,642,156

-2.3

GM Car Deliveries by Production Source

GM North America *

125,158

139,320

-10.2

1,518,377

1,601,333

-5.2

GM Import

9,906

3,349

195.8

85,336

40,823

109.0

GM Total

135,062

142,669

-5.3

1,603,713

1,642,156

-2.3

GM Car Deliveries by Production Source and Marketing Division

Buick Total

11,765

18,364

-35.9

195,160

225,054

-13.3

Cadillac Total

11,612

12,207

-4.9

114,217

124,149

-8.0

Chevrolet Total

62,967

56,344

11.8

726,037

668,072

8.7

Oldsmobile Total

326

7,819

-95.8

19,678

85,684

-77.0

Pontiac Total

29,416

32,261

-8.8

353,168

333,172

6.0

Saturn Total

9,072

12,325

-26.4

110,117

165,202

-33.3

GM North America Total*

125,158

139,320

-10.2

1,518,377

1,601,333

-5.2

Cadillac Total

0

0

***.*

0

15

***.*

Chevrolet Total

5,275

0

***.*

43,563

0

***.*

Pontiac Total

1,258

0

***.*

9,487

0

***.*

Saab Total

3,371

3,349

0.7

32,286

40,808

-20.9

GM Import Total

9,904

3,349

195.8

85,336

40,823

109.0

GM Vehicle Deliveries by Marketing Division

Buick Total

17,702

24,323

-27.2

266,881

282,090

-5.4

Cadillac Total

19,147

18,645

2.7

188,592

172,325

9.4

Chevrolet Total

208,274

200,311

4.0

2,316,471

2,207,250

4.9

GMC Total

45,111

46,821

-3.7

502,837

472,810

6.4

HUMMER Total

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Oldsmobile Total

630

9,872

-93.6

27,848

106,304

-73.8

Other-Isuzu Total

1,119

996

12.3

11,717

10,594

10.6

Pontiac Total

33,056

37,599

-12.1

410,862

389,800

5.4

Saab Total

3,371

3,349

0.7

32,286

40,808

-20.9

Saturn Total

15,094

17,970

-16.0

186,032

234,731

-20.7

GM Total

346,058

363,043

-4.7

3,966,364

3,945,322

0.5

* Includes US/Canada/Mexico

 

3-1P
GM Truck Deliveries - (United States)
October 2004

 

October

Calendar Year-to-Date
January - October

2004

2003

% Chg
per S/D

2004

2003

%Chg

Selling Days (S/D)

27

27

       

Rainier

1,922

823

133.5

19,802

1,145

***.*

Rendezvous

4,011

5,136

-21.9

51,915

55,891

-7.1

Terraza

4

0

***.*

4

0

***.*

Total Buick

5,937

5,959

-0.4

71,721

57,036

25.7

Escalade

2,947

3,123

-5.6

29,745

27,776

7.1

Escalade ESV

1,317

1,064

23.8

12,421

10,010

24.1

Escalade EXT

752

1,082

-30.5

8,031

8,943

-10.2

SRX

2,519

1,169

115.5

24,178

1,432

***.*

Total Cadillac

7,535

6,438

17.0

74,375

48,161

54.4

Astro

2,568

2,351

9.2

28,183

34,388

-18.0

C/K Suburban(Chevy)

8,928

12,896

-30.8

98,676

108,051

-8.7

Chevy C/T Series

26

42

-38.1

312

703

-55.6

Chevy W Series

292

141

107.1

2,159

1,818

18.8

Colorado

10,917

0

***.*

96,110

0

***.*

Equinox

10,367

0

***.*

61,374

0

***.*

Express Cutaway/G Cut

2,079

1,499

38.7

17,372

15,570

11.6

Express Panel/G Van

4,906

4,980

-1.5

60,292

56,556

6.6

Express/G Sportvan

1,448

799

81.2

15,802

13,285

18.9

Kodiak 4/5 Series

826

578

42.9

7,114

5,946

19.6

Kodiak 6/7/8 Series

220

273

-19.4

2,850

2,017

41.3

S/T Blazer

1,182

6,347

-81.4

31,271

43,153

-27.5

S/T Pickup

182

8,671

-97.9

9,816

124,424

-92.1

Tahoe

12,966

16,029

-19.1

159,520

162,888

-2.1

Tracker

631

2,050

-69.2

14,321

30,835

-53.6

TrailBlazer

26,489

20,129

31.6

234,344

217,495

7.7

Uplander

32

0

***.*

32

0

***.*

Venture

2,162

8,557

-74.7

62,912

76,345

-17.6

Avalanche

5,715

7,001

-18.4

69,404

77,164

-10.1

Silverado-C/K Pickup

48,096

51,624

-6.8

575,007

568,540

1.1

Chevrolet Fullsize Pickups

53,811

58,625

-8.2

644,411

645,704

-0.2

Chevrolet Total

140,032

143,967

-2.7

1,546,871

1,539,178

0.5

Canyon

2,780

0

***.*

21,634

0

***.*

Envoy

11,185

8,686

28.8

116,750

105,814

10.3

GMC C/T Series

11

74

-85.1

348

1,429

-75.6

GMC W Series

482

375

28.5

4,426

3,672

20.5

S/T Jimmy

0

0

***.*

0

52

***.*

Safari (GMC)

858

1,001

-14.3

7,028

9,558

-26.5

Savana Panel/G Classic

1,392

1,566

-11.1

16,556

16,527

0.2

Savana Special/G Cut

390

565

-31.0

16,225

9,143

77.5

Savana/Rally

170

181

-6.1

2,053

2,619

-21.6

Sierra

15,744

16,095

-2.2

176,679

162,490

8.7

Sonoma

87

2,445

-96.4

3,212

31,166

-89.7

Topkick 4/5 Series

490

388

26.3

5,068

3,799

33.4

Topkick 6/7/8 Series

395

334

18.3

5,442

3,224

68.8

Yukon

5,928

7,951

-25.4

73,989

68,609

7.8

Yukon XL

5,199

7,160

-27.4

53,427

54,708

-2.3

GMC Total

45,111

46,821

-3.7

502,837

472,810

6.4

HUMMER H1

25

85

-70.6

365

616

-40.7

HUMMER H2

2,529

3,072

-17.7

22,473

27,994

-19.7

HUMMER Total

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Bravada

115

841

-86.3

1,852

7,361

-74.8

Silhouette

189

1,212

-84.4

6,318

13,259

-52.3

Oldsmobile Total

304

2,053

-85.2

8,170

20,620

-60.4

Other-Isuzu F Series

93

101

-7.9

1,030

1,200

-14.2

Other-Isuzu N Series

1,026

895

14.6

10,687

9,394

13.8

Other-Isuzu Total

1,119

996

12.3

11,717

10,594

10.6

Aztek

1,266

2,352

-46.2

18,167

23,911

-24.0

Montana

1,109

2,986

-62.9

30,033

32,717

-8.2

Montana SV6

7

0

***.*

7

0

***.*

Pontiac Total

2,382

5,338

-55.4

48,207

56,628

-14.9

VUE

6,022

5,645

6.7

75,915

69,529

9.2

Saturn Total

6,022

5,645

6.7

75,915

69,529

9.2

GM Total

210,996

220,374

-4.3

2,362,651

2,303,166

2.6

GM TRUCK Deliveries by Production Source

GM North America *

209,596

219,206

-4.4

2,348,088

2,291,181

2.5

GM Import

1,400

1,168

19.9

14,563

11,985

21.5

GM Total

210,996

220,374

-4.3

2,362,651

2,303,166

2.6

GM Light Duty Truck Deliveries by Production Source

GM North America *

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

GM Import

0

0

***.*

0

0

***.*

GM Total

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

GM TRUCK Deliveries by Production Source and Marketing Division

Buick Total

5,937

5,959

-0.4

71,721

57,036

25.7

Cadillac Total

7,535

6,438

17.0

74,375

48,161

54.4

Chevrolet Total

139,908

143,886

-2.8

1,545,599

1,537,997

0.5

GMC Total

44,726

46,512

-3.8

499,205

469,965

6.2

HUMMER Total

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Oldsmobile Total

304

2,053

-85.2

8,170

20,620

-60.4

Other-Isuzu Total

228

218

4.6

2,058

2,635

-21.9

Pontiac Total

2,382

5,338

-55.4

48,207

56,628

-14.9

Saturn Total

6,022

5,645

6.7

75,915

69,529

9.2

GM North America Total*

209,596

219,206

-4.4

2,348,088

2,291,181

2.5

Chevrolet Total

124

81

53.1

1,272

1,181

7.7

GMC Total

385

309

24.6

3,632

2,845

27.7

Other-Isuzu Total

891

778

14.5

9,659

7,959

21.4

GM Import Total

1,400

1,168

19.9

14,563

11,985

21.5

GM Light Truck Deliveries by Production Source and Marketing Division

Buick Total

5,937

5,959

-0.4

71,721

57,036

25.7

Cadillac Total

7,535

6,438

17.0

74,375

48,161

54.4

Chevrolet Total

138,668

142,933

-3.0

1,534,436

1,528,694

0.4

GMC Total

43,733

45,650

-4.2

487,553

460,686

5.8

HUMMER Total

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Oldsmobile Total

304

2,053

-85.2

8,170

20,620

-60.4

Pontiac Total

2,382

5,338

-55.4

48,207

56,628

-14.9

Saturn Total

6,022

5,645

6.7

75,915

69,529

9.2

GM North America Total*

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

GM Light Truck Deliveries by Marketing Division

Buick Total

5,937

5,959

-0.4

71,721

57,036

25.7

Cadillac Total

7,535

6,438

17.0

74,375

48,161

54.4

Chevrolet Total

138,668

142,933

-3.0

1,534,436

1,528,694

0.4

GMC Total

43,733

45,650

-4.2

487,553

460,686

5.8

HUMMER Total

2,554

3,157

-19.1

22,838

28,610

-20.2

Oldsmobile Total

304

2,053

-85.2

8,170

20,620

-60.4

Pontiac Total

2,382

5,338

-55.4

48,207

56,628

-14.9

Saturn Total

6,022

5,645

6.7

75,915

69,529

9.2

GM Total

207,135

217,173

-4.6

2,323,215

2,269,964

2.3

* Includes US/Canada/Mexico