March 2012 still stands as the high-water mark for Chevrolet Volt sales. That month, GM sold 2,289 Volts, a number that dropped to 1,462 in April. The news today is that sales climbed back up to 1,680 in May. GM's Twitter account says that demand for the 703 Volt in California is temporarily outstripping supply. We wonder if there are dealers in other states who would be more than willing to send their unsold units westward.
When it comes to the Nissan Leaf, the May number – 510 sold – is better than the 370 Nissan sold in April. Of course, it's fewer than the 579 units sold in March and is also less than half of what Nissan sold in May 2011: 1,142. For the record, there were 26 selling days in May 2012 and 24 in May 2011. For another record, while the vehicles aren't really comparable, the Smart Fortwo outsold the Leaf at 703 units in May. Just so you know.
As we mentioned last month, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has been managing expectations about Leaf sales and saying that month-to-month numbers don't matter that much. Therefore, we won't read anything great into May's uptick just like April's downward slide wasn't a great cause for alarm. From what we understand, Leaf production is still lower than demand is calling for. The Smyrna, TN and Sunderland, UK Leaf plants, when they come online, should change this.
Other plug-in vehicle sales numbers were either less good or simply not announced yet. Ford, for example, said it "delivered the first Focus Electric vehicles to retail customers" in May, but did not say how many that was. We're still waiting for Mitsubishi and Toyota to release their plug-in vehicle sales numbers for May. We'll update this post when they do.
*UPDATE: Overall Prius sales were 21,477 last month, with the following breakdown:
Prius Liftback: 13,053
Prius C: 3,693
Prius V: 3,645
Prius Plug-in: 1,086
*LATER UPDATE: Mitsubishi isn't breaking out i sales, but did announce that the company sold a total of 5,575 vehicles in May and that, "Mitsubishi i sales continue to grow every month."
*AND ANOTHER: Mitsubishi sent us its May sales figures. The i sold 85 units last month, bringing the 2012 total to 300.
When it comes to the Nissan Leaf, the May number – 510 sold – is better than the 370 Nissan sold in April. Of course, it's fewer than the 579 units sold in March and is also less than half of what Nissan sold in May 2011: 1,142. For the record, there were 26 selling days in May 2012 and 24 in May 2011. For another record, while the vehicles aren't really comparable, the Smart Fortwo outsold the Leaf at 703 units in May. Just so you know.
As we mentioned last month, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has been managing expectations about Leaf sales and saying that month-to-month numbers don't matter that much. Therefore, we won't read anything great into May's uptick just like April's downward slide wasn't a great cause for alarm. From what we understand, Leaf production is still lower than demand is calling for. The Smyrna, TN and Sunderland, UK Leaf plants, when they come online, should change this.
Other plug-in vehicle sales numbers were either less good or simply not announced yet. Ford, for example, said it "delivered the first Focus Electric vehicles to retail customers" in May, but did not say how many that was. We're still waiting for Mitsubishi and Toyota to release their plug-in vehicle sales numbers for May. We'll update this post when they do.
*UPDATE: Overall Prius sales were 21,477 last month, with the following breakdown:
Prius Liftback: 13,053
Prius C: 3,693
Prius V: 3,645
Prius Plug-in: 1,086
*LATER UPDATE: Mitsubishi isn't breaking out i sales, but did announce that the company sold a total of 5,575 vehicles in May and that, "Mitsubishi i sales continue to grow every month."
*AND ANOTHER: Mitsubishi sent us its May sales figures. The i sold 85 units last month, bringing the 2012 total to 300.
GM Reports Highest Monthly Sales in 33 Months
2012-06-01
DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported May sales of 245,256 vehicles in the United States, up 11 percent year over year and the highest monthly total since August 2009 when dealers delivered 246,479 units. GM retail sales were up 14 percent year-over-year and the retail mix was 70 percent. Fleet sales increased 3 percent. Buick and GMC both reported sales increases of 19 percent and Chevrolet was up 10 percent.
Sales of GM small and compact cars were up 16 percent in May versus a year ago, driven by the new Chevrolet Sonic, which had sales of 7,205 units, and the new Buick Verano, with 3,609 sales, which has increased sales every month since launch.
Combined sales of all seven Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac crossovers were up 14 percent versus a year ago. The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain continue to stand out, with sales up 15 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Full-size pickup sales were up 23 percent year over year, mid-size pickup sales were up 34 percent and full-size SUVs were up 14 percent.
"GM's sales in May were the highest in almost three years and we are poised to keep delivering good news for the U.S. economy with one of the most aggressive new product offenses in our history," said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. "About 70 percent of our nameplates will be new or freshened over the course of 2012 and 2013 and that positions us very well as the industry and GM start to approach pre-recession sales levels."
This summer, Chevrolet will launch the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu four-cylinder and the Chevrolet Spark, while Cadillac will launch the XTS large luxury sedan and ATS compact luxury sedan.
The Cadillac XTS went into production in May and cars are expected to begin arriving in showrooms in June. The XTS and ATS will complement the Cadillac CTS sedan and coupe, the SRX crossover and the Escalade sport utility vehicle. Cadillac's total sales reflect a planned 82 percent decrease in fleet sales.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM's brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "possible," "potential," "target," "believe," "commit," "intend," "continue," "may," "would," "could," "should," "project," "projected," "positioned" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.
Nissan North America Sales Increase 20.5% in May
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported May U.S. sales of 91,794 units versus 76,148 units a year earlier, up 20.5 percent. Nissan Division sales increased 16.4 percent for the month at 81,202 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 65.8 percent over the prior year, to 10,592 units.
NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS
Nissan Division posted 81,202 sales, up 16.4 percent from last May's 69,759 units.
Nissan Rogue sales set a new May record with 11,977 units sold, up 72 percent from a year ago.
Nissan Juke also saw best-ever May sales, with 3,298 units marking a 66.2 percent increase over May 2011.
Sales of the Nissan Versa rose 80.3 percent from year-ago, to 8,643 deliveries.
Nissan's lineup of trucks and SUVs delivered strong gains, with sales increases across the lineup, including: Frontier up 17.2 percent; Titan up 86.7 percent; Pathfinder up 32.6 percent; and Armada up 26 percent.
"Fuel-efficient models like the Versa, Juke and Rogue had a great May, but moderating gas prices drove gains across our entire truck lineup," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "Demand for the Altima remains strong through our sell-down efforts, with sales for the year up more than 20 percent. We look for that momentum to carry into the launch of the all-new 2013 Altima, which goes on sale by the end of June."
INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS
Infiniti today reported sales of 10,592 units for May, an increase of 65.8 percent from 6,389 units a year earlier.
The Infiniti G Sedan had sales of 3,758, an increase of 40 percent and the best May since 2008.
The Infiniti QX full-size luxury SUV had its best May since 2006, with sales of 994, an increase of 27.6 percent.
The all-new Infiniti JX 7-passenger luxury crossover contributed incremental sales of 2,678 units for May, and 5,297 for the year.
NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. May 2012 had 26 selling days, while May 2011 had 24 selling days.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.6 million vehicles in 2011. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
2012-06-01
DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported May sales of 245,256 vehicles in the United States, up 11 percent year over year and the highest monthly total since August 2009 when dealers delivered 246,479 units. GM retail sales were up 14 percent year-over-year and the retail mix was 70 percent. Fleet sales increased 3 percent. Buick and GMC both reported sales increases of 19 percent and Chevrolet was up 10 percent.
Sales of GM small and compact cars were up 16 percent in May versus a year ago, driven by the new Chevrolet Sonic, which had sales of 7,205 units, and the new Buick Verano, with 3,609 sales, which has increased sales every month since launch.
Combined sales of all seven Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac crossovers were up 14 percent versus a year ago. The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain continue to stand out, with sales up 15 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Full-size pickup sales were up 23 percent year over year, mid-size pickup sales were up 34 percent and full-size SUVs were up 14 percent.
"GM's sales in May were the highest in almost three years and we are poised to keep delivering good news for the U.S. economy with one of the most aggressive new product offenses in our history," said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. "About 70 percent of our nameplates will be new or freshened over the course of 2012 and 2013 and that positions us very well as the industry and GM start to approach pre-recession sales levels."
This summer, Chevrolet will launch the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu four-cylinder and the Chevrolet Spark, while Cadillac will launch the XTS large luxury sedan and ATS compact luxury sedan.
The Cadillac XTS went into production in May and cars are expected to begin arriving in showrooms in June. The XTS and ATS will complement the Cadillac CTS sedan and coupe, the SRX crossover and the Escalade sport utility vehicle. Cadillac's total sales reflect a planned 82 percent decrease in fleet sales.
| 2012 Highlights |
May Total Sales |
Total Change vs. May 2011 |
May Retail Sales |
Retail Change vs. May 2011 |
CYTD Sales |
CYTD Change vs. 2011 |
CYTD Retail Sales |
CYTD Retail Change vs. 2011 |
| Chevrolet |
177,943 |
10.2% |
118,527 |
16.3% |
781,564 |
4.5% |
525,446 |
3.7% |
| GMC |
38,877 |
19.3% |
30,320 |
15.4% |
163,364 |
5.7% |
137,372 |
2.8% |
| Buick |
18,565 |
19.2% |
14,468 |
10.7% |
71,347 |
(9.4%) |
63,373 |
(1.7%) |
| Cadillac |
9,871 |
(15.1%) |
9,550 |
(2.9%) |
50,688 |
(22.3%) |
48,927 |
(11.8%) |
| Total GM |
245,256 |
10.9% |
172,865 |
14.4% |
1,066,963 |
2.0% |
775,118 |
2.0% |
| Industry Sales |
May SAAR (est.) |
CYTD SAAR (est.) |
Full Year 2012 (est.) |
| Light Vehicles |
14.0 million range |
14.4 million |
14.0 million – 14.5 million |
| Inventory |
Units @ |
Days Supply (selling days adjusted) |
Units @ |
Days Supply (selling days adjusted) |
| All Vehicles |
694,600 |
74 |
701,389 |
79 |
| Full-size Pickups |
223,296 |
116 |
226,585 |
121 |
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM's brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "possible," "potential," "target," "believe," "commit," "intend," "continue," "may," "would," "could," "should," "project," "projected," "positioned" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.
Nissan North America Sales Increase 20.5% in May
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported May U.S. sales of 91,794 units versus 76,148 units a year earlier, up 20.5 percent. Nissan Division sales increased 16.4 percent for the month at 81,202 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 65.8 percent over the prior year, to 10,592 units.
NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS
Nissan Division posted 81,202 sales, up 16.4 percent from last May's 69,759 units.
Nissan Rogue sales set a new May record with 11,977 units sold, up 72 percent from a year ago.
Nissan Juke also saw best-ever May sales, with 3,298 units marking a 66.2 percent increase over May 2011.
Sales of the Nissan Versa rose 80.3 percent from year-ago, to 8,643 deliveries.
Nissan's lineup of trucks and SUVs delivered strong gains, with sales increases across the lineup, including: Frontier up 17.2 percent; Titan up 86.7 percent; Pathfinder up 32.6 percent; and Armada up 26 percent.
"Fuel-efficient models like the Versa, Juke and Rogue had a great May, but moderating gas prices drove gains across our entire truck lineup," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "Demand for the Altima remains strong through our sell-down efforts, with sales for the year up more than 20 percent. We look for that momentum to carry into the launch of the all-new 2013 Altima, which goes on sale by the end of June."
INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS
Infiniti today reported sales of 10,592 units for May, an increase of 65.8 percent from 6,389 units a year earlier.
The Infiniti G Sedan had sales of 3,758, an increase of 40 percent and the best May since 2008.
The Infiniti QX full-size luxury SUV had its best May since 2006, with sales of 994, an increase of 27.6 percent.
The all-new Infiniti JX 7-passenger luxury crossover contributed incremental sales of 2,678 units for May, and 5,297 for the year.
NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. May 2012 had 26 selling days, while May 2011 had 24 selling days.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.6 million vehicles in 2011. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
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