GM's March sales gain 4% with boost from big pickups

Aided by increased sales of full-sized pickups, General Motors’ U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 4 percent in March from a year earlier to 256,047 units.

GM said that its retail sales were up 7 percent and that it had gained retail market share.

GM’s two full-sized pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, had double-digit percentage increases. Silverado sales rose 7 percent and Sierra sales increased 22 percent. GM also posted strong gains with Chevrolet passenger cars and large SUVs.

“GM’s retail sales, like the weather and the economy as a whole, have been on an improving trend since early February,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations. “We expect to see solid economic growth in the months ahead, with the job market, household income and consumer spending all showing positive signs.

“It is a strong backdrop for the launch of our all-new heavy-duty pickups, large SUVs and other new products, like the Cadillac ATS coupe coming this summer.”

However, the Silverado lost the No. 2 spot among full-sized pickups to Ram, which posted sales of 42,532 pickups in March, compared with 42,247 Silverado pickups. Ford’s F series remains the top-seller in the segment. GM also sold 16,863 Sierras.

GM also said that its average transaction price set a record at $34,000, up about $2,000 from February.

GM fleet sales dipped 5 percent in what GM said was a planned reduction. GM said commercial fleet sales rose 5 percent.