GM’s U.S. Sales Increase 5 Percent in December

Full-year sales increase 14 percent; market share grows!

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported total U.S. sales of 234,351 vehicles in December, up 5 percent compared with December 2010. Sales for the calendar year were up 14 percent year over year to more than 2.5 million units and the company gained market share.
“GM’s balanced portfolio of fuel-efficient cars, trucks and crossovers helped us make the most of the U.S. economy’s slow but steady recovery in 2011,” said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “Importantly, we were able to grow all four of our brands and reestablish Chevrolet as a force to be reckoned with in the passenger car business. This gives us a very solid foundation to compete in a market that we expect to keep growing.”
In December, retail deliveries were up 2 percent compared with a very strong December 2010, and accounted for 81 percent of GM sales. Deliveries to fleets were up 17 percent.
GM’s total passenger car sales for the month increased 12 percent. Crossover sales decreased 14 percent. Sales of trucks, which include full-size pickups, vans and SUVs increased 13 percent.
Highlights for the month include a 42 percent year-over-year increase in Chevrolet Sonic sales (compared with the Aveo), a 54 percent increase in Chevrolet Cruze sales, a 20 percent increase for the Chevrolet Camaro and a 13 percent increase for the Chevrolet Malibu. The Chevrolet Volt sold more than 1,500 units, making December its best month ever.
Other highlights include double-digit sales increases for the Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, and the GMC Yukon XL. In addition, Chevrolet Equinox had its best sales month of the year in December.

Sales Highlights	Dec. 2011 Total Sales (vehicles)	Total Sales Change vs. Dec. 2010	Dec. 2011 Retail Sales Change vs. Dec. 2010	2011 Total Sales (vehicles)	2011 Total Sales Change vs. 2010	2011 Retail Sales Change vs. 2010
Chevrolet	161,158	8.9%	5.3%	1,775,812	13.4%	19.4%
GMC	41,960	(0.5)%	(4.1)%	397,986	18.8%	16.0%
Buick	14,974	(12.4)%	(8.4)%	177,633	14.3%	14.7%
Cadillac	16,259	(2.7)%	4.9%	152,389	3.7%	10.5%
Total GM	234,351	4.7%	2.1%	2,503,820	13.7%	17.6%

GM ended December with about 580,000 units in dealer stock, including approximately 180,000 full-size pickup trucks, as planned.
GM expects full-year 2012 light vehicle sales to be in a range of 13.5 million to 14.0 million units. In previous years, GM’s forecasts were based on total vehicle sales, which included medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, or about 300,000 additional units.
“Over the course of the fourth quarter of 2011, clear signs emerged that U.S. consumers are more confident and that other underpinnings of our economy are either stable or slowly improving,” Johnson said. “When we add improving economic fundamentals to pent-up demand and an aging vehicle fleet, it’s now clear that auto sales should continue to grow in 2012, barring a shock to the system.”

Inventory	Units @ Dec. 31, 2011	Days Supply (selling days adjusted)	Units @ Nov. 30, 2011	Days Supply (selling days adjusted)
All Vehicles	583,407	67	623,666	86
Full-size Pickups	181,070	73	202,720	105

Industry Sales	Dec. 2011 SAAR (est.)	2011 (est.)	2010
Total Vehicles	13.9 million	13.1 million	11.8 million

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” “believe,” “commit,” “intend,” “continue,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “projected,” “positioned” or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.


GM USA

GM Foundation Matching Gift Program Boosts United Way

Donations up to $100,000, dollar for dollar, will help Network of Excellence schools

The General Motors Foundation today announced that it will match up to $100,000, dollar for dollar, in donations to United Way for Southeastern Michigan by Dec. 31, 2011. To give, visit: http://www.liveunitedsem.org/doubleyourgift.
“One of the most important challenges in our community today is the education of our young people – ensuring that kids enter kindergarten ready to learn and that at the very least they obtain a high school degree,” said Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
“A year ago, we received unprecedented grant funding from the GM Foundation to establish a ‘Networks of Excellence’ initiative that supports seven turnaround high schools in the region and the development of Early Learning Communities in each of those schools,” Brennan said.
Early indicators show the model is succeeding in reducing chronic absences and improving graduation rates.
“But there is so much more left to be done and we are grateful that the GM Foundation is giving United Way another boost through its generous year-end match program,” Brennan said.  
“Whether United Way receives $50 or $5,000, every dollar matters. The GM Foundation’s match is intended to inspire individual, community and corporate donors to double the value of their gift to United Way between now and the end of the year,” said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard.
 "Our commitment to match grants from the community will help enable the United Way to bolster education and other programs to bring a better quality of life to those in need,” she said.

About the General Motors Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the General Motors Foundation has helped to strengthen communities across the United States through investments in Education, Health/Human Services, Environment/Energy and Community Development.  Over the past ten years, the foundation has donated more than $350 million to send students to college, educate parents on how to keep children safe in and around vehicles, promote diversity and support vital non-profit organizations.  For more information, please visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.
About General Motors
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com/.

About United Way for Southeastern MichiganUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at http://www.liveunitedsem.org/.

GM NEWS

Happy Holidays from Grossman Chevrolet!

Win a new Ipad 2!

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Review: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

A winning blend of power, comfort and fuel efficiency, the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is one of the segment's top picks.

Pros

Class-leading horsepower and torque; high fuel economy; attractive, livable cabin; crisp handling; low price; strong safety scores.

Cons

Hatchback has less maximum cargo capacity than some rivals.

Come test drives yours today at Grossman Chevrolet

edmunds.com

Fans Can Win by Sharing Next Chevrolet Super Bowl Ad

Independent film makers from 32 countries are offering their interpretations of Chevrolet’s “Everyday Hero” for a chance to have their 30-second ad aired during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Now, fans can cash in by sharing with their friends their favorite spot among the top 35 entries featured on ChevroletRoute66.MSN.com.
Chevrolet and MOFILM, a global creative community, received 197 entries from film makers across the globe. The best spot as determined by Chevrolet will be shown during the big game on Feb. 5, 2012.
“With Chevrolet Route 66, we wanted to tap into the talents of creative people from every corner of the Earth to discover our next Super Bowl ad,” said Joel Ewanick, GM vice president and global chief marketing officer. “The submissions we received show that people from around the world share many of the same values and how Chevrolet plays a role in helping them along life’s road.”
Beginning today Dec. 22 and running through 6:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 25, 2012, eligible fans from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and United States can watch, rate and share their favorite Chevrolet Route 66 film. Those who share their personalized link to the videos most often and give the most creative answer to the question “if you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?” could win up to $10,000.
To engage fans, Chevrolet turned to Microsoft Advertising to create a contest hub to house and share the videos that offers a personalized experience with the ability to localize and share the global films.
 “Because Chevrolet is sold in many countries, ‘crowd-sourcing’ content globally is a great way to find creative advertising that resonates with consumers,” said Ewanick. “Using that same concept, we hope to have fans identify their favorite ads for us by voting with their ‘clicks’ and sharing with friends.”
The Microsoft hub will identify registrants with unique user codes that will allow them to accumulate points every time they share with another fan. The top fans as measured by sharing will be tracked by the contest site leader board. To be sure the contest is won by a real person and not a web “bot,” the contest site will ask viewers to  “confirm” by entering a valid email address.
Fans can enter the contest and view complete program details by visiting the contest website. Winners will be announced the within two weeks following the conclusion of the contest.
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at http://www.chevrolet.com/.


Chevy USA

Chevrolet Volt narrowly edges out Dodge Challenger & Porsche 911

The Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid that has an advanced but unproven powertrain, is now the top-scoring model in Consumer Reports’ latest annual owner-satisfaction survey
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Ninety-three percent of respondents who own the Volt said they would definitely buy it again, making it the highest-rated car in the nationally representative survey. The Volt narrowly edged out the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and the Porsche 911, each with owner-satisfaction scores of 91 percent.
Though the Volt’s high score reflects the excitement surrounding GM’s new electric/gasoline drivetrain, it comes with a caveat. The model had been in showrooms for only a few months when Consumer Reports’ survey was conducted, and it remains to be seen if the score will hold up as the car rolls out to a wider audience and owners spend more time with their vehicles. Still, early adopters of a new technology tend to be among the most enthusiastic buyers.


Consumer Reports’ car owner-satisfaction survey was conducted prior to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcement that it would conduct a safety investigation into plug-in hybrid sedans following an incident with a Chevrolet Volt catching fire after being crash tested.


“These models reflect a larger trend we’ve seen in recent years: Sporty cars and fuel-efficient cars with alternative drivetrains tend to generate more enthusiasm and loyalty than most other types of vehicles,” said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports automotive editor.


For each of the 27 models that got Consumer Reports top owner-satisfaction rating—with at least 80 percent of respondents saying they’d definitely buy the car again—12 were sporty cars or convertibles and nine were hybrids or diesels.


Brand nationality doesn’t seem to be a factor among the top-rated models. The 27 models with the highest rating include 10 American, 10 European, and seven Asian models. Audi, Chevrolet, and Ford were tied with four models each on the top list.


Consumer Reports owner-satisfaction survey, which drew responses from more than 314,000 subscribers on 2009 through 2012 model-year vehicles, is based on the results from Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
Scores are based on the percentage of respondents who answered “definitely yes” to the following question: “Considering all factors (price, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?”


Other fuel-efficient models that earned Consumer Reports top ratings include a number of hybrids, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Lexus CT 200h and RX 450h, and Toyota Prius, as well as diesel versions of the BMW X5 and Volkswagen Golf nd Jetta SportWagen.
Sporty models that did well include the supercharged Audi S4, Audi A5 and S5, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Ford Mustang GT, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Mini Cooper Convertible.
Small cars, lower-priced small and midsized SUVs, minivans, and compact pickup trucks tended to score much lower as a group.


This year, only three models received Consumer Reports lowest rating, which means that fewer than half of the respondents said they would definitely buy the car again. They are the Chevrolet Aveo (37%), all-wheel-drive Toyota Matrix (43%), and Chevrolet Colorado pickup (47%).
Read the full report on Consumer Reports’ owner satisfaction survey findings, where you can explore how vehicles rank in each class (available to online subscribers). Also, satisfaction ratings are available on the model pages.


-Consumer Report


Come visit Grossman Chevrolet try out the new Volt today!