25.10.2005
Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hummer and Saab brands continue global growth

GM reported calendar year-to-date sales (January - September) of 7,066,774 vehicles around the world – a 3.7 percent increase over 2004, led by significant gains in sales for its three luxury and premium brands Cadillac (up 9.6 percent), HUMMER (up 84.1 percent) and Saab (up 1.4 percent), as well as its foundation brand, Chevrolet (up 7.3 percent).

“With Chevrolet and Cadillac we have two of the strongest vehicle brands in the industry, and we intend to leverage and grow them internationally with our global marketing, manufacturing and vehicle development strategies,” said John Middlebrook, Vice President of Global Sales, Service and Marketing. “The sales increases we’re seeing with Cadillac, Chevrolet and most recently HUMMER and Saab demonstrate that we have a winning portfolio of new vehicles.”

Global Chevrolet sales are up more than 228,000 units over 2004. The sales increase boosted Chevrolet’s global market share from 6.6 to 6.8 percent, strengthening its position as the third best selling brand in the world. Chevrolet sales in Europe increased 27 percent year-to-date. In Asia-Pacific, Chevrolet sales improved 143 percent, while year-over-year Chevrolet sales in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region (LAAM) jumped 17.8 percent.

GM’s Cadillac luxury brand experienced a significant sales boost in the Asia-Pacific markets (up 160 percent). The mid-size Cadillac CTS led the pack with significant sales gains in this region. “The Chinese market could eventually represent up to 20 percent of Cadillac’s global volume and become the Cadillac brand’s second-largest after the U.S.,” said Middlebrook. Cadillac’s presence in Europe is expected to grow with sales of the new Cadillac BLS starting next spring.

HUMMER is expanding globally as well. More than 39,000 units were sold in the first nine months of 2005 (up 84.1 percent). GM launched the all-new H3 to European audiences at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year. The H3 is expected to be HUMMER’s biggest seller, with the strongest demand in the United States, Middle East and Europe. The larger HUMMER H2s are already sold in more than 30 countries around the world.

Global sales of Saab are up 1.4 percent this year, led by a 10.4 percent increase in GM’s North America region. In September, Saab reported its fourth consecutive month of year-over-year sales, as well as its highest ever monthly market share performance in GM’s Europe region. Much of the brand’s growth is attributed to the most aggressive product development program in Saab’s 58-year history. New products introduced this year include the 9-3 SportCombi, a mid-cycle enhancement to the 9-5 and the 9-7X (premium midsize SUV, available in the U.S. and Canada).

Three of GM’s four regions achieved year-over-year sales increases over the first nine months of 2005. The largest percentage increase occurred in GM’s LAAM region, which boosted sales by 21.6 percent, followed by its Asia-Pacific region with a sales increase of 17.4 percent. GM’s Europe region reported year-to-date sales increases of 1.7 percent built on strong sales from Chevrolet.