General Motors sales drive company to best second quarter performance since 2005
The General Motors (GM) engine has started up again, as the auto manufacturer is back to delivering stronger sales performances.
In the second quarter of this year GM saw 2,505,889 vehicles drive off forecourts around the world, up seven per cent in the US and eight per cent in the Chinese market.
Sales have moved up a gear since the first three months of the year, taking total first half sales to 4,921,928 vehicles. Recently installed CEO Mary Barra credits a strategy of "investing in our brands around the world to keep our momentum going".
"GM did well in the world's two largest and most profitable vehicle markets," says Barra, "that helped us grow despite very challenging market conditions in parts of South America, Asia and eastern Europe". Sales improved across several of GM's brands – Buick, Cadillac, and Opel/Vauxhall – all up in the second quarter of this year.
The company's Chevrolet brand enjoyed record sales in China in the first half of the year, while Cadillac sales jumped 51 per cent in the last quarter alone. Despite the sales pick up GM continued to lag other competitors, as it has since 2011.
Volkswagen AG shifted 4.97m units globally in the first six months of the year, excluding its MAN and Scania brands, and ahead of GM's 4.92m. And in pole position? Toyota continues to top the global charts.