Press Release
GM Announces Sales for August 1996 and the Calendar-Year-to-Date
09/06/96
General Motors Vehicle Sales -- August 1996
WARREN, Mich., Sept. 4 -- General Motors
dealers in the United States sold 411,294 passenger cars and trucks in
August 1996, down 7.9 percent versus August 1995. Passenger car sales
in the month decreased 13.8 percent, while sales of light duty trucks
increased 2.1 percent. Sales of GM brands calendar year-to-date are
up almost 1.5 percent.
Month & Calendar Year to Date*
Aug. 1-31 Jan. 1-Aug. 31
1996 1995 1996 1995
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Total Vehicles 411,294 446,394 3,330,435 3,289,273
% change per selling day -7.9 1.3
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Total Cars 241,237 279,855 1,974,628 1,972,307
% change per selling day -13.8 0.1
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Total Trucks 170,057 166,539 1,355,807 1,316,966
% change per selling day 2.1 2.9
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Month Calendar Year to Date
Aug. 1-31 Jan. 1-Aug. 31
Division 1996 1995 1996 1995
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Chevrolet 215,158 214,132 1,793,533 1,671,859
Pontiac 46,210 52,422 378,867 408,639
Oldsmobile 30,920 39,658 229,270 261,660
Buick 36,676 48,668 295,640 311,111
Cadillac 13,297 20,105 109,789 112,575
Saab 2,640 2,554 19,701 18,100
GMC 39,917 41,380 312,119 314,710
Saturn 26,476 27,475 191,516 190,619
Twenty-seven selling days for the August 1-31 period this year and
twenty-seven for last year.
* = year to year % change is NOT adjusted for selling days.
Comments from Ron Zarrella:
"August truck sales were up compared to last year despite tight
availability on a number of key brands," said Ronald L. Zarrella, vice
president and group executive in charge of GM's North American Vehicle
Sales, Service, and Marketing Group. "Chevy truck set August sales
records for Blazer, Tahoe and Suburban. GMC had its second best
August (1995 was the record) led by record sales performances for
Jimmy and Suburban.
"Our overall car performance was down on a year-to-year basis for the
month of August. However, with the introduction of several new
products, we anticipate stronger sales performance going forward,"
said Zarrella.
HIGHLIGHTS
GM Passenger Car
* GM passenger car sales were down 14% compared to August 1995.
- After fifteen months of year-over-year sales increases, Chevrolet car
sales were down 3% compared to last year. Cavalier sales increased 6%
over last year. As compared to August 1995, Metro sales were up 48%,
Monte Carlo sales were up 2%, and Corsica/Beretta sales were up 15%.
- Sunfire set an August sales record for Pontiac, with sales up 24% over
last year.
- Aurora sales were up 30% over last year. Achieva also had a strong
month for Oldsmobile, with sales up 31%.
- After strong calendar year-to-date performance, Cadillac is looking
forward to continued momentum this fall from DeVille, the top selling
luxury car, and the launch of the all new luxury sedan, Catera.
- Saab's sales increased 3% over August 1995, with a 10% increase in
900 sales
GM Truck
* GM Truck deliveries were up 2% over very strong August 1995.
- Chevrolet truck sales were up 3% compared to last year.
- August was a strong month for Chevrolet utility sales. Suburban,
Tahoe, and Blazer sales set August records. Blazer sales were up 51%
over last year, and were joined by strong increases from Suburban
(+32%), Tahoe (+27%) and Tracker (+18%).
- C/K Pickup sales were even with August 1995, with continued
enthusiastic customer reaction to the extended cab model with the
third door.
* GMC had its second best August ever. GMC utility performance was
strong, with Suburban (+80%) and Jimmy (+44%) setting August sales
records.
* Oldsmobile truck sales were up 149% over last year, led by August record
sales of the new Bravada.