GM’s Q1 Global Sales 1% Down at 2.25 Million Vehicles

The General announced that it sold 2.25 million cars and trucks around the world in the first quarter of 2008, down less than one percent compared to the previous period. Strong first quarter sales in GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, and improved sales in the GM Europe region helped offset a significant 10 percent decline in North America. Sales outside the North American market were up by 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 today. -Continued

"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."

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.