General Motors posted a 3.6% increase in global vehicle sales in the
first quarter of 2013, compared to the same period last year.
The automaker sold 2.36 million vehicles in the first quarter, including an 8%
increase in North America to 761,616 units and a 7% increase in its
International Operations business to 992,234 units. GM's international
operations includes China, where GM posted a 10% sales increase in the first
quarter.
The weakness continues in Europe, where GM sales dropped 6% to 372,634 units.
But GM reported an uptick in global market share for the first quarter to 11.4%
from 11.2% a year earlier.
Chevrolet sales were flat at "more than" 1.18 million, GM said in a statement,
though the company technically eked out a small increase for its 10th
consecutive quarter of record Chevy sales.
For Chevy, 2013 is a vital year. The brand's U.S. vehicle introductions include
a new Silverado pickup truck in the second quarter and a new Impala sedan that's
shipping to dealers now.
The brand got a big publicity lift in January with the introduction of the new
2014 Corvette Stingray, but the Malibu mid-size sedan has slumped in the face of
fierce competition and GM plans to introduced a refreshed Malibu later this
year.
Now, Chevy has a new global marketing chief, Volkswagen veteran Tim Mahoney, who
will shape the future of its new global advertising campaign, "Find New Roads."
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(c)2013 the Detroit Free Press
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