General Motors reports strong sales outside U.S.

General Motors sold 2.25 million cars and trucks around the world in the first quarter of 2008, according to preliminary sales figures released April 23, with a record 64 percent of all sales occurring outside the United States. GM global first-quarter sales were down less than 1 percent. Robust first-quarter sales in GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GMLAAM) and Asia Pacific (GMAP) regions, and improved sales in the GM Europe (GME) region helped offset a 10 percent decline in GM North America (GMNA). Sales outside GMNA were up 8 percent compared with last year.

"GM posted record sales in three of our four regions driven by continued strong demand in emerging markets," John Middlebrook, GM vice president, Global Sales, Service and Marketing Operations, said. "While the challenges of the U.S. economy continue to put pressure on the automotive industry there, we saw nearly 20 percent growth in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East and 6 percent growth in the Asia Pacific region. We're also very pleased to see 3 percent growth in Europe, where we established a new sales record with 572,000 vehicles sold. We continue to see a higher percentage of our business coming from outside the developed markets - and the non-U.S. share of GM's global sales of 64 percent clearly reflects that trend."

Chevrolet global sales of 1.08 million vehicles were up 3 percent compared with a year ago, setting a first quarter record. The brand grew by 41 percent in GMAP, 30 percent in GME, and 21 percent in GMLAAM.

Globally, Hummer recorded 13,000 global vehicle sales with a 24 percent gain in the GMLAAM region. With the Hummer H2 and the V8-powered H3 Alpha in North America, and production of the right hand-drive H3 in South Africa, Hummer products are well-positioned to respond to demanding customers' needs.

Cadillac posted sales increases outside of North America in the first quarter, including a 62 percent surge in the GMLAAM region and a 15 percent increase in GME.

Opel and Vauxhall sold 431,000 vehicles in the first quarter of the year. The brands achieved segment leadership with Meriva and Zafira in the monocab segment and second position with Astra in the popular compact segment.

Global sales highlights include:

• First-quarter 2008 global sales of 2.25 million vehicles, with sales records set in three of the four regions.
• At 1.45 million vehicles, GM first-quarter 2008 sales outside of the United States accounted for about 64 percent of total global sales. Overall, first-quarter global industry sales of 17.99 million vehicles were up 3 percent. The annual market is expected to hit almost 73 million in 2008, up about 2 million vehicles from 2007.
• In the Asia Pacific region, GM had record sales of 411,000 vehicles that were 6 percent higher than the previous year, and GM China sales of 312,000 vehicles posted a more than 7 percent sales increase compared with 2007. GM remained the top-selling global automaker in China. Wuling posted a 6 percent sales increase with nearly 173,000 vehicles sold in the region. GM India also set a sales record in the quarter with sales up 58 percent to 18,000 vehicles. GM sales in the region set a record for the quarter.
• In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region, GM sales reached a first-quarter record 323,400 vehicles, up nearly 20 percent in volume compared with 2007 and GM sold an all-time March monthly high of 111,300 vehicles. Sales in Brazil were up 36 percent for the quarter, a first-quarter record. First-quarter sales records were also set in Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Middle East and Israel. The Chevrolet Corsa, Celta and Aveo continued as the top sellers in the region, representing 40 percent of total GM sales.
• In Europe, GM also set a quarterly sales record with deliveries of 572,000 vehicles, up 3 percent. Growth in Russia, up 78 percent, led the increase. Opel sold 23,500 vehicles in Russia, up 150 percent. Cadillac, Hummer, and Chevrolet set European sales records for their brands. Chevrolet achieved record sales of 132,000 vehicles, up 30 percent.
• Continued softness in the U.S. market due to rising fuel prices and concerns about housing and credit availability, resulted in North America sales of 947,000 vehicles, a decline of 10 percent compared with last year. GM's U.S. mid-car and mid-utility crossover segments saw volume and share gains on the strength of mid-cars Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, and Pontiac G6, and mid-utility crossovers GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook. Cadillac CTS sales were up 55 percent compared with a year ago. Chevrolet Malibu sales were up 17 percent in the U.S. Total GM U.S. truck deliveries of 476,000 vehicles were down 15 percent compared with the same period a year ago, while car deliveries of about 330,000 were off 6 percent compared with first quarter 2007. However, GM's total U.S. retail share of 21 percent was comparable with last year's first quarter.

 

General Motors Corporation Global Vehicle Sales1
		Q1			CYTD
		2008	2007	% Chg	2008	2007	% Chg
GMNA
	Chevrolet	568,545	642,849	-11.6	568,545	642,849	-11.6
	GMC	118,840	126,428	-6.0	118,840	126,428	-6.0
	Pontiac	100,186	103,582	-3.3	100,186	103,582	-3.3
	Saturn	51,826	61,875	-16.2	51,826	61,875	-16.2
	Cadillac	48,914	49,390	-1.0	48,914	49,390	-1.0
	Buick	41,445	46,138	-10.2	41,445	46,138	-10.2
	HUMMER	10,556	13,756	-23.3	10,556	13,756	-23.3
	Saab	6,798	7,932	-14.3	6,798	7,932	-14.3
	Opel/Vauxhall	388	524	-26.0	388	524	-26.0
	Other	0	3,023	0	0	3,023	0
Total		947,498	1,055,497	-10.2	947,498	1,055,497	-10.2
GME
	Opel/Vauxhall	418,496	428,362	-2.3	418,496	428,362	-2.3
	Chevrolet	131,853	101,220	30.3	131,853	101,220	30.3
	Saab	19,653	22,247	-11.7	19,653	22,247	-11.7
	Cadillac	1,301	1,132	14.9	1,301	1,132	14.9
	HUMMER	711	448	58.7	711	448	58.7
	Other	123	388	-68.3	123	388	-68.3
Total		572,137	553,797	3.3	572,137	553,797	3.3
GMLAAM
	Chevrolet	288,757	239,235	20.7	288,757	239,235	20.7
	Opel/Vauxhall	11,131	12,704	-12.4	11,131	12,704	-12.4
	GMC	10,764	7,617	41.3	10,764	7,617	41.3
	Cadillac	1,383	853	62.1	1,383	853	62.1
	HUMMER	1,164	938	24.1	1,164	938	24.1
	Buick	261	312	-16.3	261	312	-16.3
	Saab	126	128	-1.6	126	128	-1.6
	Other	9,790	8,699	12.5	9,790	8,699	12.5
Total		323,376	270,486	19.6	323,376	270,486	19.6
GMAP
	Wuling2	172,921	163,945	5.5	172,921	163,945	5.5
	Chevrolet	86,785	61,712	40.6	86,785	61,712	40.6
	Buick	80,695	82,598	-2.3	80,695	82,598	-2.3
	Holden	36,843	40,850	-9.8	36,843	40,850	-9.8
	Daewoo	29,626	34,652	-14.5	29,626	34,652	-14.5
	Cadillac	1,789	2,023	-11.6	1,789	2,023	-11.6
	Saab	860	1,008	-14.7	860	1,008	-14.7
	Opel/Vauxhall	604	1,206	-49.9	604	1,206	-49.9
	HUMMER	588	146	302.7	588	146	302.7
	Other	224	220	1.8	224	220	1.8
Total		410,935	388,360	5.8	410,935	388,360	5.8
GLOBAL
	Chevrolet	1,075,940	1,045,016	3.0	1,075,940	1,045,016	3.0
	Opel/Vauxhall	430,619	442,796	-2.8	430,619	442,796	-2.8
	Wuling2	172,921	163,945	5.5	172,921	163,945	5.5
	GMC	129,604	134,045	-3.3	129,604	134,045	-3.3
	Buick	122,401	129,048	-5.2	122,401	129,048	-5.2
	Pontiac	100,186	103,582	-3.3	100,186	103,582	-3.3
	Cadillac	53,387	53,398	0.0	53,387	53,398	0.0
	Saturn	51,826	61,875	-16.2	51,826	61,875	-16.2
	Holden	36,843	40,850	-9.8	36,843	40,850	-9.8
	Daewoo	29,626	34,652	-14.5	29,626	34,652	-14.5
	Saab	27,437	31,315	-12.4	27,437	31,315	-12.4
	HUMMER	13,019	15,288	-14.8	13,019	15,288	-14.8
	Other	10,137	12,330	-17.8	10,137	12,330	-17.8
Total		2,253,946	2,268,140	-0.6	2,253,946	2,268,140	-0.6
Notes:
(1) Quarterly sales data is preliminary and subject to change.
(2) We own 34% of SGMW and under the joint venture agreement have significant rights as a member as well as the contractual right to report SGMW global sales as part of our global market share.