DETROIT — June sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac increased by a combined 36 percent to 194,828 units in the United States. This is the sixth straight month in which sales for GM’s brands increased year-over-year by more than 20 percent. Year-to-date sales for the four brands also have risen 32 percent to 1,069,577 units — an increase of 258,368 units compared to last year.
The increase was fueled by the continuing success of the company’s launch vehicles, its growing sales of compact, midsize and luxury crossovers, and some recovery in the markets for pickups and full-size SUVs.
The resurgence in large pickup truck sales was a key factor behind June’s results, according to Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. Combined sales of the Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Avalanche and GMC Sierra were up 27 percent for the month, compared to June 2009 and are up 12 percent year-to-date.
"As companies continue to invest in their businesses, we expect this segment to continue to recover," said Johnson. "We think the release of some pent up demand in the pickup market is an indication that a fundamental part of the U.S. economy is gradually strengthening."
GM’s launch vehicles continue to be a driving factor behind the company’s sales increases. Retail sales of the Chevrolet Equinox and Camaro, Buick LaCrosse and Regal, GMC Terrain, and Cadillac SRX and CTS Wagon have increased 222 percent year-to-date through June and totaled 172,083. This represents about one out of every four retail sales for GM.
