The FINANCIAL — General Motors sold 236,235 vehicles to individual or “retail” customers in July, up 5 percent year-over-year, driven by across the board increases at Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac. GM’s brands collectively had their best July retail sales performance since 2007.
Based on initial estimates, GM’s retail market share rose 1 percentage point in July to 17.9 percent, GM’s highest monthly retail market share since December 2011. GM has gained retail market share in 14 of the past 15 months, dating to April 2015. From a retail share perspective, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick gained 0.4 percentage points, 0.3 percentage points and 0.2 percentage points in July, respectively. Less profitable daily rental sales were down 10,160 vehicles or 42 percent, in July as planned. GM’s total sales in July were down less than 2 percent to 267,258 vehicles, according to GM.
Through the first seven months of the year, GM retail sales are up 2 percent and retail share is up 0.6 percentage points, the largest retail share gain of any full-line automaker. Year to date, Chevrolet retail sales are up 3 percent and the brand’s retail share has grown 0.5 percentage points. Chevrolet remains the fastest-growing full-line brand in the industry. Year to date, Buick retail deliveries have grown 6 percent and Buick has gained 0.1 percentage points of retail share. In addition, GMC’s year to date retail sales are up slightly and GMC grew retail share by 0.1 percentage points.
GM continues to dominate the full-size pickup segment. The ongoing sales performance of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups shows GM’s product portfolio strength with retail customers. According to JD Power PIN estimates, combined retail sales of the Silverado and Sierra grew to more than 43 percent of the full-size pickup segment in July.
“Our retail-focused plan is working and as availability of our new cars, trucks and crossovers continues to grow, we expect to keep our retail sales momentum going and our strong margins intact,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We are growing our retail business while keeping inventories lean, incentive spend disciplined and growing our transaction prices faster than the industry average.”
GM ended July with a 66-days supply of vehicles. GM’s first and second quarters ended with 71 and 72 days supply of vehicles, respectively. Lean inventories reduce the pressure to use incentives to move product and positions the company well if the market begins to soften.
As part of its retail-focused strategy, GM continues to reduce daily rental deliveries, as planned. Through July, GM’s daily rental deliveries are down 38 percent from a year ago.
In addition, GM continues to take advantage of a strong, stable U.S. economy to grow its retail business.
“Low interest rates, full employment, stable fuel prices and increasing wages remain in place and these positive factors continue to point toward a strong second half of the year and another potential record year for the industry,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist.
July Retail Sales and Business Highlights vs. 2015 (except as noted)
Chevrolet
Light-duty crew cab Silverado sales were the best ever for a July, and best ever for year to date
Colorado, Equinox, Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse and Trax were up 27 percent, 8 percent, 13 percent, 12 percent, 24 percent and 63 percent, respectively
Suburban and Tahoe had their best July since 2007 and best year to date since 2008
Equinox had its best July on record
Traverse and Trax had their best month ever
Colorado had its best July since 2006
Spark, SS and Volt sales were up 42 percent, 62 percent and 83 percent, respectively
Spark and Volt had their best July and year to date performances ever
GMC
Canyon and Sierra up 34 percent and 21 percent, respectively
Terrain, Yukon and Yukon XL were up 2 percent, 21 percent and 26 percent, respectively
Best July ever for Terrain
Best July for Sierra since 2006
Yukon has achieved 11 straight year-over-year increases
Best year to date sales for the brand since 2005
All-new Acadia has strong start with “days to turn” at 11 days
Buick
Regal was up 16 percent
Enclave and Encore were up 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively
Buick dealers delivered 1,421 Envisions in July with “days to turn” at 21 days
Best July for Regal since 2011
Best July ever for Enclave
Best month ever for Encore
Encore has achieved 31 straight months of year-over-year gains
Best year to date sales for the brand since 2005
Cadillac
ATS and Escalade were up 15 percent and 1 percent, respectively
Cadillac dealers delivered 4,844 XT5s with a “days to turn” at 25 days
Year to date, Cadillac held the highest ATP in the luxury segment with $53,891
Average Transaction Prices (ATP)/Incentives (J.D. Power PIN estimates)
GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $34,887, more than $4,100 above the industry average and more than $1,100 above last July’s performance
GM’s incentive spending thru July 24th was 14.2 percent. Final July incentive spend is expected to be in line with domestic competitors. GM’s temporary spike in incentive spending resulted from an eight-day sale in early July to begin the sell-down of several 2016 model year vehicles. GM’s incentive spending average for the year is 11.4 percent, compared to an industry average of 11.0 percent and well below other domestic and select Asian competitors.
Fleet and Commercial
GM’s fleet mix in July was 11.6 percent of total sales, below the company’s full-year guidance of 20 percent
Year to date, Commerical and Government deliveries were up 1 percent
Small business sales were up 4 percent year to date
Industry Sales
GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in July was 17.9 million units. On a calendar year-to-date basis, GM estimates the light-vehicle SAAR was 17.3 million units
Year to date, industry sales are up nearly 1 percent, compared to 2015
