8.1.2003
GM sales up 36 percent last month -- best December since 1979

GM dealers in the US sold 473,663 new cars and trucks in December, a 36 percent increase versus December 2001, and the best December since 1979.

GM dealers in the US sold 473,663 new cars and trucks in December, a 36 percent increase versus December 2001, and the best December since 1979.

GM truck sales for the month were up 36 percent, while car sales increased 37 percent overall. For the calendar year, GM dealers delivered 4,858,705 new vehicles, down a modest 1 percent from 2001.

In December, GM produced 382,000 vehicles in North America, compared to 362,000 vehicles produced in December 2001. In the fourth-quarter of 2002, GM built 1.425 million units in North America, compared to the 1.294 million units produced in the same period in 2001.

The following is GM's current production forecasts for the first-quarter of 2003 for each region:

GM North America -- The first-quarter production forecast for North America remains unchanged at 1.4 million units.

GM Europe -- The region's revised first-quarter production forecast is 490,000 vehicles.

GM Asia Pacific -- GM Asia Pacific's current first-quarter forecast remains un-changed at 72,000 vehicles.

GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East -- LAAM's current first-quarter production forecast is 138,000 units.