• Cadillac Sales Up 19 Percent; Led by Best-Ever STS Sales and Record CTS Sales
  
• Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Cobalt and Buick LaCrosse Again Post Best Sales
  
• GM Combined Launch Car Deliveries Up 9.5 Percent Compared to Year-Ago Levels

DETROIT - General Motors dealers sold 385,939 new cars and trucks in April. Overall, GM sales were down 7 percent on a selling days adjusted basis. GM's truck sales (215,321) were down 17 percent, due in part to a difficult year-ago comparison when GM set an industry sales record. Car sales (170,618) were up 7.5 percent, paced by solid sales of key launch vehicles.

"We are pleased with the momentum and enthusiasm for our new models," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "High volume sedans such as the Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Cobalt and Buick LaCrosse are vital to our success in the marketplace. We are beginning to show significant year-over-year gains with our launch cars compared to the models they replaced. Of note, Cobalt achieved a new sales benchmark with nearly 23,000 deliveries this month. Also, our newest trucks, Chevrolet Equinox and Colorado and GMC Canyon all posted record sales in April."

Cadillac delivered strong sales results in April, achieving a 19 percent increase over year-ago levels. The improvement was driven by a 45 percent increase in car sales. STS, Cadillac's latest entry into the luxury car segment, recorded its third consecutive month of sales increases, with a 20 percent improvement over March. The exceptional sales performance of CTS continues well into its fourth year on the market, with April sales 26 percent greater than last year, establishing a new monthly record.

Chevrolet car sales increased 20 percent in April, driven by the new Cobalt, which had its best-ever monthly sales. Cobalt deliveries jumped an impressive 59 percent compared to March levels, which was its previous high. Economy segment-leading Aveo also contributed to the increase in Chevrolet car sales, achieving record monthly sales that were up 43 percent compared to year-ago levels. On the truck side, Equinox sales were up 76 percent, surpassing the 10,000 unit-sales mark for the sixth time in the last eight months. Colorado achieved record sales in April, with deliveries that were 17 percent above year-ago levels. Chevrolet's product barrage continues throughout 2005 with launches scheduled for the Cobalt SS coupe and Cobalt SS sedan, HHR, and the new Impala and Monte Carlo.

Pontiac G6 sales continued to strengthen, with its best monthly sales to date. Deliveries were 23 percent greater than March levels. Sales of the G6 are expected to continue to grow with the scheduled addition of a coupe and a 4-cylinder sedan this summer and a retractable hardtop convertible anticipated in early 2006. Solstice, Pontiac's exciting new roadster is scheduled to begin production this summer. Canyon, GMC's new entry in the mid-size pickup segment also posted record deliveries, up 41 percent compared to last year.

Sales of Buick's new midsize car, LaCrosse, continue to gain traction. LaCrosse had its best-ever monthly sales, with deliveries 5 percent higher than March levels. LaCrosse retail sales for the third consecutive month outpaced year-ago combined Century and Regal retail sales achieving a noteworthy 74 percent improvement. Lucerne, Buick's new entry-luxury sedan, is scheduled to arrive in dealers' showrooms later this year.


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-- Edited by ifcar at 17:53, 2005-05-03