GM Reports September 2004 Sales of 458,799, Up 20 Percent

DETROIT - General Motors dealers sold 458,799 new cars and trucks in September, up 20 percent compared to year-ago levels. GM's truck sales (287,129) were up 32.5 percent, and car sales (171,670) were up 3 percent. Third-quarter sales (1,324,685) were up 2 percent.

"GM's September results included all-time industry record sales of trucks, SUVs and full-size pickups," said John Smith, group vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Chevrolet enjoyed its best month since October 2001, with strong sales of Aveo, Malibu, Equinox and Colorado. Other launch products - Cadillac SRX, GMC Canyon and Pontiac GTO - also had strong sales. New vehicles such as Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G6 and Buick LaCrosse should add to the sales excitement."

GM's truck lineup posted industry-record September sales. Full-size pickups and sport utility vehicles both set industry sales records. Full-size pickup deliveries (108,742) posted a 42 percent gain, led by record Chevrolet full-size pickup sales, up 41 percent, and record GMC Sierra sales, up 47 percent. This is the eighth consecutive month that GM full-size pickups led the industry. Deliveries of medium pickups were up 33 percent (16,022), as Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon continued to build sales strength.

GM again set a new industry benchmark for utility vehicle sales. SUV sales (134,819) improved 35 percent compared to year-ago levels, surpassing the 100,000-unit sales mark for the sixth month this year. Third-quarter utility sales gained 12 percent (382,076), also setting another record.

September deliveries of medium utilities (54,212) improved 41 percent, led by record Chevrolet TrailBlazer sales, up 57 percent (28,175) and record GMC Envoy sales, up 62 percent (14,792). Medium utility sales increased 12 percent in the third quarter (160,954), setting an industry record.

Small utilities continued to gain sales strength in September, with 19,456 deliveries, a 109 percent increase compared to last year. Chevrolet Equinox had its best sales month since launch with 12,126 deliveries, a 41 percent improvement over August. Small utility sales were up 66 percent in the third quarter (52,542).

GM car sales rose 3 percent compared to last September. There were several pockets of strength. Cadillac CTS continued its record sales momentum with a 28 percent increase in September (4,202) and a 21 percent sales improvement in the third quarter (13,831). Malibu sales were up 144 percent in September (18,469) and 123 percent in the third quarter (61,183)

Chevrolet - Chevrolet sales in September were up 36 percent (283,264), led by very strong truck sales (193,476), which improved 37 percent. In addition to Equinox and TrailBlazer, Silverado sales were up 46 percent (77,007), a new September record. Colorado posted its best sales since its introduction (12,493). Chevrolet car sales were solid in September with 89,788 deliveries, a 35 percent improvement over last year. In addition to strong Malibu sales, Aveo posted 6,195 deliveries and Corvette set a new monthly sales record (3,705).

Chevrolet's third-quarter sales were up 8 percent compared to year-ago levels (795,918). Car sales increased 20 percent (264,648) in the third quarter.

Cadillac - Cadillac sales in September were up 2 percent. Its record-setting truck sales pace continued in September with 7,863 deliveries, a 28 percent improvement. Escalade ESV sales (1,521) were up 23 percent, a new monthly record, and SRX deliveries were 2,439. Cadillac's third-quarter performance was strong, as evidenced by a total sales improvement of 9 percent (63,453) and a 51 percent increase in truck sales (24,318).

GMC - GMC continued its exceptional sales pace with record sales (62,754), up 32 percent compared to last September. It remains on track to exceed 600,000 sales for the first time in its history. Envoy established a new monthly sales record (14,792), up 62 percent and Canyon had 2,999 deliveries. GMC's third-quarter sales improved 7 percent compared to year-ago levels (174,604) and set a new third quarter record.

Pontiac - Bonneville sales (2,884), buoyed by GXP deliveries, jumped 137 percent in September. GTO had its best sales since launch with 2,678 deliveries, up 177 percent compared to August and its best monthly sales since launch. Vibe had record September sales, up 61 percent (5,227). Third-quarter Bonneville sales were up 84 percent (9,733), and Vibe deliveries improved 32 percent (16,040), a monthly record. The all-new G6s are arriving in dealers' showrooms.

Saturn - Saturn Ion sales increased 29.5 percent compared to last September (9,816).

Buick - Buick truck sales were up 45 percent in September (7,888), with Rainier posting its best sales since launch with 3,338 deliveries. Third-quarter truck sales rose 30 percent (22,395).

September 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 43,612 units, up 14 percent from September 2003. Year-to-date sales were up 10 percent. GM's third-quarter sales of 132,741 units set a new quarterly high for the certified category.

GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used brand, posted September sales of 36,854 units, up 15 percent from year-ago levels. GM Certified Used Vehicles continued to lead all certified pre-owned brands industry-wide with calendar year-to-date sales of 328,723 units, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year.

Cadillac Certified Pre-owned Vehicles posted sales of 3,301 units, up 24 percent from last September. Used Cars from Saturn sold 2,811 units, up 4 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 646 units, down 26 percent.

"With record quarterly sales, GM is building momentum as the category leader in certified pre-owned sales," Smith said. "GM Certified Used Vehicles sales were up 15 percent in September and 11 percent year-to-date, while Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned recorded a strong 24 percent increase in September. GM continues to drive the certified segment, with 2004 sales up more than 10 percent through September."

In September, GM North America produced 469,000 vehicles (183,500 cars and 285,500 trucks) in North America, compared to 518,000 vehicles (215,000 cars and 303,000 trucks) produced in September 2003. Production totals include joint venture production of 21,000 vehicles in September 2004 and 15,500 vehicles in September 2003.

In the third quarter, GM North America built 1.209 million vehicles (463,000 cars and 746,000 trucks), up approximately 9,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the third quarter of 2003, GM North America built 1.245 million vehicles (492,000 cars and 753,000 trucks).

In addition, GM North America's current fourth-quarter production forecast is 1.28 million vehicles (479,000 cars and 801,000 trucks), down 10,000 vehicles from last month's initial guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, GM North America built 1.385 million vehicles (558,000 cars and 827,000 trucks). GM North America's current 2004 calendar year production forecast is 5.22 million vehicles, unchanged from last month's guidance.

GM also announced current third-quarter and fourth-quarter production forecasts for its international regions:

GM Europe - The region's current third-quarter forecast is 398,000 vehicles, down 3,000 vehicles from last month's forecast of 401,000 vehicles. In the third quarter of 2003, GM Europe built 393,000 vehicles. The region's current fourth-quarter forecast is 448,000 vehicles, down 29,000 vehicles from last month's initial guidance of 477,000 vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the region built 446,000 vehicles.

GM Asia Pacific - The region's current third-quarter production forecast is 151,000 vehicles, down 1,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the third quarter of 2003, the Asia Pacific region built 120,000 vehicles. GM Asia Pacific's current fourth-quarter production forecast is 167,000 vehicles, up 5,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the region built 133,000 vehicles.

GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East - GM's current third-quarter production guidance for the region is 189,000 vehicles, down 1,000 vehicles from last month's guidance. The region built 135,000 vehicles in the third quarter of 2003. The region's revised fourth-quarter forecast is 193,000 vehicles, up 4,000 vehicles from last month's initial 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. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com.