GM Reports 392,041 Deliveries in December

--Chevrolet Reclaims Industry Sales Leadership for First Time Since 1986

--GM Posts Best Full-Size Pickup Sales in Industry Since 1978

--GM Continues Luxury Brand Sales Momentum

--HUMMER Caps Record Year with Best-Ever Monthly Sales; Fastest-Growing Brand in U.S.

--Saturn Calendar Year Sales Improvement Led by New Vue

DETROIT - GM in 2005 posted several significant records that point to strong consumer acceptance of its new products. Chevrolet, led by strong full-size pickup and launch vehicle sales, was the best-selling vehicle brand in the United States for the first time since 1986. HUMMER had a record sales year and was the industry's fastest-growing brand. Saturn ended the year with improved sales (up 1 percent), setting the stage for 2006, when it will double its product lineup with three all-new vehicles.

General Motors dealers in the United States sold 392,041 new cars and trucks in December, down 10 percent from the same month a year ago. Car sales were down 19 percent and truck sales were off 5 percent. Total sales were up 29 percent compared to November levels. Calendar year sales (4,517,730) were down 4 percent, with car sales off 7 percent and truck deliveries down 2 percent.

"We're thrilled that consumers voted with their pocketbook and made Chevrolet the number one U.S. brand in 2005," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "But we're not going to spend time celebrating this accomplishment. We're headed right back to the important business of introducing 19 new vehicles this year and providing buyers with an industry-leading sales and service experience."

Chevrolet's results were paced by full-size pickup sales and the introduction of the new Impala, Equinox, HHR and Cobalt. Over the last five years, driven by consumer response to its revamped product lineup, Chevrolet closed an 850,000-unit sales gap with the competition, a notable accomplishment given the increasingly competitive nature of the U.S. auto industry. Chevrolet's continuing strong truck sales and the introduction of important entry-level vehicles were key to this achievement.

GM posted exceptionally strong full-size pickup sales in December and ended the year with 998,654 deliveries, less than 1,500 units below the 1 million-unit sales benchmark. This was the industry's second-best-ever annual sales performance for full-size pickups, falling just short of the previous GM record set in 1978 (1,010,688).

In 2005, GM once again experienced a sales increase for all of its luxury brands. Sales of GM luxury vehicles grew by more than 100,000 units between 2000 and 2005. Cadillac in 2005 had its fourth consecutive year of sales increases and its best sales performance since 1990, led by record CTS, DTS and STS sales. Saab achieved a year-over-year sales improvement in 2005. HUMMER capped record 2005 sales with its best-ever monthly sales and the distinction of being the fastest growing brand in the industry. Positive consumer reaction to the new H3 drove HUMMER's December sales up 112 percent. Calendar-year deliveries were 93 percent greater than last year.

Saturn sales for December were up 13 percent and calendar year deliveries rose 1 percent. The new Vue led this improvement, with sales gains in seven months in 2005. Vue's December sales were up 35 percent and calendar year sales rose 6 percent. Consumers in 2006 will have more choices in the Saturn portfolio, when it doubles its product lineup and introduces three all-new products, the Aura, Sky and Outlook, each featuring Saturn's dynamic and inviting design.

"While December was a difficult comparison for us and other manufacturers, by any measure it still was a solid sales month," LaNeve added. "We're particularly pleased with the recovery in our sport utility and full-size pickup business. It gives us renewed confidence as we prepare to launch new vehicles into these key segments in 2006."

Certified Used Vehicles

Total 2005 sales for GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified brand, were a category record 455,498 units, up 1.3 percent from 2004. This marks the fourth consecutive year that GM Certified Used Vehicles set an all-time annual sales record for the segment. GM Certified Used Vehicles posted sales of 38,850 units in December, down 3.6 percent from record monthly results posted in December 2004. Chevrolet continues to be the industry's top-selling single-make certified brand with total 2005 sales of 292,301 units.

December 2005 sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Used Cars from Saturn and Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, were 44,372 units, down 6 percent from last December. Cadillac Certified total 2005 sales were 38,595, up 5.5 percent over 2004. Total 2005 certified GM sales were 532,379 units, comparable to last year's total.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted December sales of 3,332 units, down 8 percent. Used Cars from Saturn sold 1,632 units in December, down 39 percent, while Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 558 units, down 10 percent.

"GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top selling certified brand, set a new annual sales record for the manufacturer-certified pre-owned segment for the fourth consecutive year, up more than 1 percent from last year's all-time high for the category," LaNeve said. "Certified GM brands again led all manufacturers with 2005 sales of 532,379 units, and we look forward to growing our leadership position in the certified segment in 2006."

GM North America Reports December and Fourth Quarter 2005 Production, 2006 First-Quarter Production Forecast Remains Unchanged

In December, GM North America produced 361,000 vehicles (140,000 cars and 221,000 trucks). This is down 39,000 units from December 2004, when the region produced 400,000 vehicles (148,000 cars and 252,000 trucks). Production totals include joint venture production of 24,000 vehicles in December 2005 and 20,000 vehicles in December 2004.

GM North America produced 1.281 million vehicles (483,000 cars and 798,000 trucks) in the fourth quarter of 2005. This is up 3,700 units over fourth quarter 2004 production. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region produced 1.277 million vehicles (466,000 cars and 811,000 trucks). Additionally, the region's 2006 first-quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 1.25 million vehicles (505,000 cars and 745,000 trucks). In the first quarter of 2005, the region produced 1.183 million vehicles (470,000 cars and 713,000 trucks).

GM also announced revised 2005 fourth-quarter and 2006 first-quarter production forecasts for its international regions.

GM Europe - GM Europe's 2005 fourth-quarter production forecast remains unchanged at 443,000 vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2004, GM Europe built 442,000 vehicles. GM Europe's revised 2006 first-quarter production estimate is 497,000 vehicles, down 28,000 units from last month's guidance. In the first quarter of 2005, the region built 502,000 vehicles.

GM Asia Pacific - GM Asia Pacific's revised 2005 fourth-quarter production forecast is 482,000 vehicles, up 35,000 units from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region built 386,000 vehicles. GM Asia Pacific's revised 2006 first-quarter production estimate is 411,000 vehicles, down 26,000 units from last month's guidance. In the first quarter of 2005, the region built 335,000 vehicles.

GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - The region's revised 2005 fourth-quarter production estimate is 189,000 vehicles, down 1,000 units from last month's guidance. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the region built 200,000 vehicles. The region's revised 2006 first-quarter production estimate is 201,000 vehicles, up 4,000 units from last month's guidance. In the first quarter of 2005, the region built 184,000 vehicles.


Vehicle Total:
2005: 4,517,730
2004: 4,707,416
%Chg -4.0

Car Total:
2005: 1,751,921
2004: 1,885,199
%Chg: -7.1

Truck Total:
2005: 2,765,809
2004: 2,822,217
%Chg: -2.0

Light truck total:
2005: 2,702,464
2004: 2,770,260
%Chg: -2.4

Light Vehicle Total:
2005: 4,454,385
2004: 4,655,459
%Chg: -4.3

FOR RELEASE: 2006-01-04




>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----

#1 in sales in 2 categories and yet they saw a loss in sales in all categories....
weird

their car sales going down 7.1% is not a good sign

i guess this is a good sign.....


they are coming out with alot of nice new products, i wouldn't be surprised for them to have a pretty good year in 06

i dont see how its a good sign
they introduced some new cars and redesigned ones and their car sales fell 7.1% which is the most out of any type of vehicle they sell

The fact that they spend more on health care for their employees than they do on all the raw steel to make their vehicles doesn't help their monetary situation any. I hope they get everything sorted out.

Either way its a good thing...any good news is better than bad news..period..

It was actually nice to read some good news about GM for a change. Too bad the press seems to be almost gleefully encouraging their downfall.

Quote:

"We're headed right back to the important business of introducing 19 new vehicles this year and providing buyers with an industry-leading sales and service experience."

He might as well said, "19 new SUV models"

Quote:

providing buyers with an industry-leading sales and service experience.

this was meant as a joke...right?

Pearl WhiteZ wrote:It was actually nice to read some good news about GM for a change. Too bad the press seems to be almost gleefully encouraging their downfall.

That's because GM's been sticking to people for years and people are sick and tired of their smug B.S. atitiude toward customers. It's called karma and I for one am glad the news makes sure to report every minute and painful detail of their downfall. They need to learn to respect their customers. Because building a sub-par vehicle and selling it for top dollar then totally $hitting on the customer when i falls apart is not how you treat people. can't wait for Toyota to buy them...they are too stupid to fix their problems so i hope they get ganked....HARD.



"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net

Sounds like you had a bad experience or maybe it is your attitude.

Quote:

this was meant as a joke...right?

Nope. I bought the stock at $30 CAN hoping they can make a turn around. I visited the States during the new year and was surprised to see the way the American news media went on about GM. I would expect that here, since Canadians also make a large amount of Japanese cars and generally relish beating up on anything US, especially during an election.

GM still has enough cash to buy the entire stock markets worth of their stock, and are winning quality awards that used to be reserved for the Japanese cars. I think the Chevy brand was 3rd over all for initial brand quality - Mazda was near the bottom of the 28 or so brands listed.

If they don't improve, I lose. No joke. I got my money where my mouth is on this one.

NfamousZ24 wrote:Sounds like you had a bad experience or maybe it is your attitude.

maybe it's crappy built cars and whena customer takes it in they're treated like a peice of crap every time...and in my case it was numberous times, you tend to get angry.(I won't again go into detail all the trouble i had with my car)
You just take a different stance because it's your livelihood yhood, to have any other stance would be wrong. but face reality If GM is so great and wonderful why are they going down? healthcare? please. get a clue that's only a peice of the bigger pie.

They build crap, and when that junk pile breaks they treat the customer like crap. (my own bad experience earned a bad attitude toward GM) And do you blame me for GM's trouble? is my bad attitude and experience that makes people hate them and "gleefully encouraging their downfall". No it's because 100's, 1000's maybe even hundreds of thousands of people have had horrid ownership experience.
GM's money problems stem directly from their own bad attitude toward build quality, work force respect (cutting blue collar jobs before cutting white collar salaries), customer respect, and most important the complete failure of over all ownership experience of a GM product.

It doesn't matter if toyota or honda also build junk (which they don't) because they still know how treat a customer with respect. and THAT's why they continue to sell cars and keep customers.
I should not have to spend $40,000+ to experience a qulity vehicle from GM. when $17,000 will get me an equally or better quality car from Honda.

Your attitude in many posts before mirrors that of GM. It's all you dumb whiney customers and haters. We just talk and talk, and don't know what we're talking about. We're just complainers with a bad attitiude. So what you had problems? it must have been that you did this, or must have done that (because there's just no way it could actually be the car...right?). Even so our new cars are much better than our old ones.

And THAS why GM is in trouble...denying the problem won't make it go away. Do i think GM's cars are better today than in 1998? they might be, but i was burned hard enough with everyone else that we're not willing to waste our hard earned $$$ to find out. It's time for GM to eat some crow and pay for it's sins. I along with the 1000's of people they $hit on for years will persoanlly enjoy watching them burn.

Customer first.



"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net

Jookycola wrote:can't wait for Toyota to buy them...they are too stupid to fix their problems so i hope they get ganked....HARD.

I guess the only question I have is why are you still here?
Why not just buy a Toyota & move on??

(& I'm not meaning this in an a$$hole kind of way. Just calling it like I see it based
on what you wrote, so please don't get bent about it.)








"Your Premier Source For Automotive Neon & Accessories!"

Quote:

Jookycola
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 6:27 PM

NfamousZ24 wrote:

Sounds like you had a bad experience or maybe it is your attitude.



maybe it's crappy built cars and whena customer takes it in they're treated like a peice of crap every time...and in my case it was numberous times, you tend to get angry.(I won't again go into detail all the trouble i had with my car)
You just take a different stance because it's your livelihood yhood, to have any other stance would be wrong. but face reality If GM is so great and wonderful why are they going down? healthcare? please. get a clue that's only a peice of the bigger pie.

They build crap, and when that junk pile breaks they treat the customer like crap. (my own bad experience earned a bad attitude toward GM) And do you blame me for GM's trouble? is my bad attitude and experience that makes people hate them and "gleefully encouraging their downfall". No it's because 100's, 1000's maybe even hundreds of thousands of people have had horrid ownership experience.
GM's money problems stem directly from their own bad attitude toward build quality, work force respect (cutting blue collar jobs before cutting white collar salaries), customer respect, and most important the complete failure of over all ownership experience of a GM product.

It doesn't matter if toyota or honda also build junk (which they don't) because they still know how treat a customer with respect. and THAT's why they continue to sell cars and keep customers.
I should not have to spend $40,000+ to experience a qulity vehicle from GM. when $17,000 will get me an equally or better quality car from Honda.

Your attitude in many posts before mirrors that of GM. It's all you dumb whiney customers and haters. We just talk and talk, and don't know what we're talking about. We're just complainers with a bad attitiude. So what you had problems? it must have been that you did this, or must have done that (because there's just no way it could actually be the car...right?). Even so our new cars are much better than our old ones.

And THAS why GM is in trouble...denying the problem won't make it go away. Do i think GM's cars are better today than in 1998? they might be, but i was burned hard enough with everyone else that we're not willing to waste our hard earned $$$ to find out. It's time for GM to eat some crow and pay for it's sins. I along with the 1000's of people they $hit on for years will persoanlly enjoy watching them burn.

Customer first.

granted, the particular dealership you went to may have screwed you over, I wouldn't judge the entire company on one dealership's dealings (as much as you should since its the only way to get GM stuff or service) with your situation

personally, I can relate a little.. I took my car to the dealership once about a week after I bought it to get my clogged cat replaced and after that I'll never take it there again. It took too long and i'm not comfortable leaving my car somewhere for long periods of time in the hands of people I don't know.

From that experience, NOBODY touches my car except for me and a few of my close friends when I need a hand.

personally, I still like GM products, and I think with their latest cars and trucks they're beginning to turn over a new leaf with better design and craftsmanship. If they are #1 in the world even after losing 7% of their sales from last year, I think they're doing ok.

^^^ Over 5 years, 5 motors, 2 transmissions, 6 alternators, 3 transmission services for faulty linkage issues, a fully rusted through muffler in just a hair over a year, followed the next year with the exaust manifold leaking, repair to a gas guage that read wrong...twice.
all this in a car i bought brand new in 1998 was the only owner and driver, took it in to the dealer for all normal service (i.e. oil changes, tire rotation, blet checks, etc.) on time, mostly early. As a matter of fact it was because i had my cars service records 100% recorded through Goodwrench and it showed the car was properly cared for they never could say one damn thing to me. but when engines kept blowing i refused to take it back to the idiot dealers that couldn't do it right the first or 2nd time. When the 3rd engine blew the dealer that put it in was backed up 3 months and does not give out loaners. So i took it to another one that did they had it 3 months too.


i could go on forever. it was not one dealer. More like every dealer in metro Detroit (GMs hometown) I was very cool for a guy with a brand new car that pays $300 a month for and spends 6 months out of every year i owned it in a shop. Not to mention kept paying premium prices for mundane things like $40 for an oil change at the dealer...i did this so that they could always have a record that the car is cared for not beaten or neglected. So yeah when some jackhole service writer or GM employee wants to mouth off to me, i think i more than earned my right to have an attitude.

And in response to KRI i wouldn't take it the wrong way bro, i do own an import. and don't get me wrong. My car was a pile of junk, many, many other old school JBO'ers j-bodies were junk too. but, when they were running they were a blast. I loved that car even though it sucked...hard. if the Z24 was reliable i'd have never let mine go. Heck, i didn't even mind the cheap interior people so often complain about...the car was fun, comfortable, and practical. just NOT reliable. So i stay on the JBO because i like the site and people...and still love the car, i would just not own one again.



"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net

If it wasn't for Saturn, I would have left GM altogether.. Their customer service is superior to the crap service that I recieved from the GM dealer when I owned my Z24.. The Z24 was curse from day 1.. To it's failing computer/wiring problems, to it's severely rusted rocker panels.. And it was a 2002!! Such a piece of junk.. I couldn't help but spit on it as I parked it in the rear of the Saturn lot..





Red 2005 Saturn Ion-3 Coupe

Quote:

And in response to KRI i wouldn't take it the wrong way bro, i do own an import. and don't get me wrong. My car was a pile of junk, many, many other old school JBO'ers j-bodies were junk too. but, when they were running they were a blast. I loved that car even though it sucked...hard. if the Z24 was reliable i'd have never let mine go. Heck, i didn't even mind the cheap interior people so often complain about...the car was fun, comfortable, and practical. just NOT reliable. So i stay on the JBO because i like the site and people...and still love the car, i would just not own one again.

Cool cool. I just kinda get fed up with all the J-bashing that goes on around here.
(No pun intended, lol) But I see where you are coming from on your point of view. It
seems as though you may have got a lemon. My 1998 Z24 has 100,000 plus miles
on the original Engine & Trans. Yeah, We Had to do the water pump, so I threw in the
Secret Cams Swap while we were at it. But yeah, I see where your point is. And
as far as that goes, I SERIOUSLY would have looked into a Factory Buy Back
type of situation regaurding the Lemon Law. I am saddened that your experience
has soured the opinion of the J-Body. But I don't blame you.







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Anybody that would blow-up 5 engines is a Moron in my opinion, unless he was trying to do it. Why did you take it to a dealer for service anyway? Can't you change oil? My brother put over 200,000 miles on a 89 cavalier until his wife drove it hot when a hose blew. I've had 20 used cars of various brands, foreign and domestic and have only had one blow an engine, due to a valve dropping because of worn rocker arms, a Ford V8 with many miles paid $300 for the car, 68 Cougar. Had a few manual transmissions start grindng going into gear, due to the fact they were old and my engines were more powerful than stock. That's it, other than a couple starters, batteries and alternators. I'd say a 96 and newer Cavalier or Cobalt with manual transmission is the best car on the market. Great gas mileage,reliability,performance, resale might not be great, but that is because of idiots who don't know how to take care of a vehicle and then badmouthing them or expecting them to be better than a vehicle that cost $10,000 more or by people who believe the BS in car magazines about how great foreign cars are, they write those things because they are paid to!! So go spend more on a foreign car if you want, I'll use my extra money on other things.

My 2002 ECO sedan runs just as good today as it ever has, and has never let me down or left me stranded.



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James (ROLN19S) (JuicyJ) wrote:My 2002 ECO sedan runs just as good today as it ever has, and has never let me down or left me stranded.

Same with my 03, 54,000 miles and I'll I've had done was rewiring the lighting(covered by warranty), a new washer fluid pump, and an 02 sensor.

Total cost of $250.00 in repairs, not including oil changes.

That's for 2 and a half years of ownership. Not bad if you ask me.

The old view of bad reliability doesn't stand anymore. However if you look at it psychologically. Visit the AUDI forums, an audi which is considered a realiable car. All the members will tell you that after 40,000 miles expect 1K+ in repairs EVERY YEAR. However an AUDI is still considered a reliable car.

It's all a matter of perspective. Much of the reliability ratings you see are complete BS, and based upon public opinion, not actual facts.

Second quantity of repairs is not an apropriate mesure either, operator mistakes, and small hang ups arn't truly a reliability issue, so long as the mechanical components of the car work flawlessly IMO.


-Chris

ima noob but the way i see it is like this today everything is masproduced ...and the customer is always right is gone(just forget that saying ). every car company has problems if you dont like your gm car buy a honda then ina year youll see the rearend rust out but itl still drive. my cav has 75,000 on it and other than oil change an normal tune up crap its still runnin like a champ what im tryin to say is that youll prolly get the same responce from no matter what car type you buy just treat your car like it it the second most expensive ting youll ever buy the first is a house. thats my opinion it may be wrong and misspelled but thats it

Actually giovanhalen, People that talk $hit....just to do it. Are morons.
I can change oil jackass.
the engines didn't blow up because of me and i had the service records to prove that. That's why i went to the dealer. don't try to pick away at me, you know nothing about my experience with my car or my experience with cars period.
is your brothers 89 cavalier with 200,000 miles my 1998 Z24?.....no.
so i could care less that it was the God of all cars. Everyone knows the 2.2 push-rod motor in base Cavaliers were practially bullit-proof. My car was a Z24 with the 2.4.

I obviously maintained my car stupid ass, or by the 3rd engine don't you think GM would have said...um, something is not right here. but since all service records were recorded through Goodwrench...they had to fix it...or can you not read? I Could I have fixed and/or maintained it myself...of course, but then i give them a way out of fixing it because they could say i did something wrong. So i continued to make sure they did the service so when things went wrong the only people they could blame....was themselves.

Incidently this was my first domestic car and i fixed all my previous and current imports myself. As my first NEW car i wanted to do things right with the Z24....I've never been so glad i did.
And on a side note, this was the first and last car i've ever owned to blow an engine or transmission. I own a $hitbox 11 year old suzuki now with 100,000+ miles I maintain it the same as i did with the cavalier(i.e. regular oil changes, annual tune-ups, etc.) and it runs like new, i've never had one problem with it ever....and they are supposedly a P.O.S. car. However a brand new Crapalier couldn't make it past 30,000 without blowing up, Go figure...but i'm a moron somehow.

i will however say i am impressed with the ecotec motor and think it looks promising. Cars cost too much these days. the point of an "entry-level" car is to showcase what your company "can" offer. If you can impress someone and gain trust with just your $13,000 car they'll feel more comfortable moving into a more expensive one later. All i see is i'd move into a more expensive pile of junk with GM so i'll pass.



"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net

well i can say my cobalt is a great improvment over my Z24 (also plauged with trouble). in the 9 months i've owned my cobalt i feel more confident and assured it will be a car i can depend on. my also new Z24 in 1999 felt cheap from day one and in 9 months had snapped a shifter cable or linkage or whatever, followed by a ticking in the transmission a month or two later, which from there open a flood gate of B.S. problems quite similar to jookycolas.

Giovanhalen I don't see how jookycola could be called a moron if the all the service was performed by GM's own Goodwrench service. I would say GM is acountable 100% for the problems of that particular car. What justification do you have to call someone a moron for the failure of someone elses shoddy work? My own Z24 was a peice of crap yet i maintained both my 1995 Ford F-150 and that Z24 exactly the same, the Ford is now 11 years old and is an unstoppable tank that has never given me a hiccup of trouble in over a decade of use, however the Z24? was newer and couldn't even make it a year without taking a dump. Am i moron? because they are both serviced by me as well as my 15 year old Honda (i built up myself ) and Suzuki (i race and maintence myself)...none of which gave me any trouble. So you'll have to excuse me if i think it seems odd my old truck and 2 much older cars are still running and not my daily driven, un modded bone stock z24 and that somehow because the Z24 was a lousy built car that makes it's owners morons when something goes wrong. So your rant was totally unwarranted and ignorant...go figure someone on the JBO belittling someone else just to be a jerk, what big suprise.

I know I personally refuse to take my cobalt to the dealer even for an oil change, due to the poor attitude of the GM service area as a whole, and the incompetent work of their mechanics on my last GM product.
I think if GM keeps building good cars like my Cobalt the positive word of mouth with travel fast that they're product is vastly improved. and frankly good for them. But GM HAS to, and i mean HAS TO completely revamp their customer service procedures and entire service system. because what's the point of selling great cars if when one needs fixing your treated like pond scum by inept mecahnics and brain dead high school drop out service writers.

I'm glad to see GM is fixing their main problem, lousy product. but i can't see how they'll get back into the good graces of the general buying public without fixing the "whole" package. in that i think GM has still got a long way to go.

(and sorry for all the spelling errors, i typed this really fast on my lunch)
LOL






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