General Motors delivered its highest December sales month in five years in 2012 according to a new report issued by the company this week. Sales were up five percent year-over-year to 245,733 vehicles.
Click here to see the full press release and specific sales numbers for GM's companies issued this week.
"All four GM brands increased their sales year over year in December and we were strong across the board in cars, crossovers and pickup trucks," said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations in the press release. "We also achieved an important fuel economy milestone. In December, GM became the first U.S. automaker to sell more than 1 million vehicles in a single year that get an EPA-estimated 30 mpg or better on the highway."
December was also the company's best retail sales month of 2012 as well. Retail sales were up 38 percent overall in November, around double the industry's estimated increase according to GM. For the year, GM passenger car sales increased 14 percent compared to the same time in 2011.
GM truck sales increased 52 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year and sales for the Chevrolet Volt increased to 72 percent.
"In a strong year for the auto industry overall, GM struggled to hold up its end in 2012," said analyst Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds.com to USA Today. "Its year-over-year growth is well under the industry average, and the company couldn't hold on to market share gains it enjoyed in 2011. GM says its overall retail sales were up 38% from November, a key point to car companies because retail sales are higher-profit sales to individuals, rather than the discounted sales to fleet buyers such as rental-car companies.
For the third consecutive month, Cadillac posted a double-digit year-over-year sales increase according to GM. Their passenger car sales increase 64 percent year-over-year as the new XTS and ATS models have continued to be popular luxury vehicles at dealerships all-around the nation.
"GM's strong finish in 2012, the industry's momentum and the overall health of the U.S. economy make us optimistic about 2013," McNeil said in the company press release. "The budget compromise reached in Washington this week removes uncertainty and clears the way for full-year light vehicle sales to rise to the 15 million to 15.5 million unit range in 2013."
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