Comments on: GM Sales Fall 31 Percent In December

By: Richard Chen

Richard Chen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:03:30 +0000

Via WSJ: While Ford continued to reduce its sales of low-margin sales to rental-car companies and other fleet customers, GM used fleet sales to prop up its December total as retail sales to individual customers at dealerships fell about 41%.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:14:54 +0000

Meanwhile…there has been a long line of rail car carriers on the siding just north of our plant in southwest MI for at least three weeks. I don’t know who’s vehicles are in them but I really am curious as to whether these cars are on the books as “sold”.
Once a dealer accepts delivery they are sold to the respective dealership. They are not counted as retail sales until that dealership sells or delivers to a retail customer. So the short answer is most likely no they are not sold. Most likely waiting to be shipped.

By: npbheights

npbheights — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:12:18 +0000

Since we talked about Cadillac all day yesterday, what about them? How much lower were Cadillac’s sales?

By: akear

akear — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:10:43 +0000

It is funny as the Delta and Epsilon platfrom continue to flop the Impala is still Detroit’s sales king. I read GM even sells more Malibus to the fleets than the Impala!!

By: bumpy

bumpy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:59:54 +0000

“GM’s total annual vehicle sales for 2008 fell below three million, at 2,980,688.”

GM has been shedding roughly 500k a year since 2004 or so. I think you have to go back to the late ’50s to find a yearly total that low.

By: ronin

ronin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:45:57 +0000

Surprised?

By: mtypex

mtypex — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:34:48 +0000

I agree – Chevrolet and Cadillac have a future. GM would be better off just slamming the door on Pontiac-Buick-GMC.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:29:49 +0000

GM is never going anywhere unless Chevrolet takes it there, it’s by far their strongest brand and should have recieved the lion’s share of attention and investment the past decade instead of brands like Saturn.

Make exceptional Chevrolets and back them with a big warranty like Hyundai/Kia and things could still work out.

By: EJ_San_Fran

EJ_San_Fran — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:41 +0000

At least they are about to do something about inventory: the Q1 2009 production plan is down to a paltry 420K units in North America and only 1.3M units worldwide.

A few years ago in North America alone they produced more than worldwide now.

By: Bunter1

Bunter1 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:10 +0000

This is typical of GM. If you look at the last few years they tend to go about three down months for every “good” month. Basically they get so desperate that they give them away.

The overall trendline is the only one that matters.

Bunter

By: 50merc

50merc — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:02:30 +0000

OK, they’re down 31 percent but the previous December was extremely strong — right? Last I heard, GM was still “on the road to recovery.” (Or was that “perdition”?

By: BMW325I

BMW325I — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:57:24 +0000

@ jgh : looking forward to Chrysler December sales

By: jgh

jgh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:48:00 +0000

@NickR: Put on your HAZMAT suit – Chrysler’s posting a 50+% faceplant.

By: 63CorvairSpyder

63CorvairSpyder — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:42:49 +0000

Thank God for the “Red Tag(ink) Sale”. The dealers must love the “Nothing” deals they did write.

By: NickR

NickR — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:31:26 +0000

Would it be strange for me to say that’s better than I anticipated? I think I will shield my eyes when you post Chrysler’s figures.