GM Canada Posts Strong March, Q1 2017 Sales Gains
General Motors Canada wrapped up the first quarter of 2017 in as strong a fashion as an automaker could hope to: with its best single sales month in nine years. GM Canada’s sales rose 22.9% to 30,115 in March as all four brands enjoyed double-digit sales increases; retail sales were up 27.2% at 21,979 units, and fleet sales were up 12.6% at 8,136 units.
“March was our best GM Canada sales month since 2008,” said John Roth, vice-president, sales, service, and marketing for GM Canada. “Our brands are delivering what Canadians want with a full line of crossovers and SUVs, while Chevrolet continues to be Canada’s leading seller of electric vehicles.”
Chevrolet’s sales increased 21.4% with 17,412 units delivered, good for the brand’s best March in 11 years. Among the brand’s biggest performers were the Equinox (up 61.5% at 2,493 units), Cruze (up 27.1% at 2,916 units), and Silverado (up 36.3% at 6,061 units). With Bolt deliveries totaling 241 units and Volt deliveries totaling 377 units, Chevy led the country with its best EV sales ever. Chevy’s first-quarter sales are up 10.3% from 2016 with 34,562 units sold.
Buick sales were also at an 11-year high with 1,702 units delivered, up 17.5% year-over-year. Sales of the Encore were up 85.1% at 672 units, and Envision sales totaled 273 units. Q1 sales increased 32.7% from 2016 with 3,815 vehicles delivered, and sales of the Encore have nearly doubled.
GMC sales were up 26.1% at 2,789 units, good for the brand’s best March in history. Sales of the Sierra were up 33.3% at 6,726 units, and sales of the Terrain increased 47.8% at 1,308 units. In the first quarter, GMC’s sales are up 12.5% at 20,248 units, the brand’s best Q1 total ever.
Cadillac sales were also an all-time high for March at 1,212 units, up 28%. Sales of the new XT5 led the way at 589 units, and ATS sales increased 3.6% at 259 units. Through three months, brand sales are up 7.4% at 2,623 units, the highest total the brand has seen since 1980.
GM Canada’s first-quarter sales total 61,248 vehicles, up 12.1% from 54,622 vehicles sold in Q1 2016.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.