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GM Announces Global Quarterly Sales In Excess of 2.4 Million Vehicles; Record Sales Outside United States


WEBWIRE

* Chevrolet Aveo, Corsa, Optra and Celta Drive Record Sales Surge of 20 Percent In Latin America, Africa and the Middle East
* Record Sales Growth in South Korea, India and China Fuels 8 Percent Asia/Pacific Increase
* Europe Has Best-Ever Second Quarter; Sets All-Time Sales Record for First Half of 2007
* GM Maintains Sales Leadership in Key Emerging Markets

DETROIT - General Motors sold 2.405 million cars and trucks around the world in the second quarter of 2007, reporting record sales outside the United States, according to preliminary sales figures released today. GM sold 2.395 million vehicles in the second quarter last year.

“GM’s second quarter sales were driven by exceptionally strong demand in emerging markets. GM global sales of 4.67 million vehicles for the first half of the year reflects solid results, in fact we’re on track to have our second-best annual sales performance in our almost 100-year history,” John Middlebrook, GM vice president, Global Sales, Service and Marketing Operations, said today. “In the second quarter we experienced record sales growth around the globe including 20 percent growth in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - an all-time quarterly record for that region, and 8 percent growth in the Asia/Pacific region. We’re also pleased to see almost 5 percent growth in Europe where we sold more than 574,000 vehicles.”

Chevrolet global sales of 1.13 million vehicles in the second quarter of 2007 were up more than 4,000 vehicles compared with a year ago. The brand grew by 34 percent in Europe, 24 percent in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and 3 percent in Asia-Pacific.

Saturn sales in the United States and Canada were up 27 percent, based largely on the popularity of three new vehicles, the Sky roadster, Aura mid-car and Outlook mid-utility crossover vehicle. Saturn is launching the all-new Vue small utility crossover and soon will introduce the Astra small car. Saturn has two hybrid offerings in its lineup, the Aura Green Line and Vue Green Line.

Global sales highlights include:

* Second quarter 2007 global sales of 2.405 million vehicles.

* Second quarter sales outside the United States set a record. At 1.39 million vehicles, Q2 2007 sales outside of the United States accounted for about 58 percent of GM’s total global sales, growing at close to 8 percent compared with Q2 2006, outpacing the industry average growth rate of 6 percent.

* In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region, GM sales surged to 293,300 vehicles, up 20 percent in volume compared with 2006, which set the industry and GM record for the second quarter. Sales in Brazil were up 23 percent for the quarter.

* In the Asia/Pacific region, GM sales of 338,000 vehicles were 8 percent higher than the previous year’s second quarter, and were a record for the quarter. GM China sales of 234,000 vehicles posted a more than 6 percent sales increase compared with 2006. GM remained the top-selling automaker in China. With these results, GM is on track to become the first manufacturer in China to exceed one million vehicles sold annually. GM’s sales in China include sales by SAIC-GM-Wuling, in which GM owns the maximum permissible interest for a foreign company, 34 percent.

* In Europe, GM also set a quarterly sales record with deliveries of 574,000 vehicles, up 5 percent. Growth in Russia, up 106 percent, led the increase. Chevrolet achieved record European sales of 114,900 vehicles, up 34 percent, and is fueling GM’s growth in Russia. Vauxhall sales strength in the UK helped offset significant reductions in the German market, keeping Opel/Vauxhall share in Europe at 7.4 percent for the first half of the year.

* In North America, planned reductions in daily rental sales and softness in the U.S. market due to increasing fuel prices and concerns about housing, resulted in sales of 1.20 million vehicles, a decline of 7 percent compared with a strong quarter the previous year. Despite a competitive market for full-size pickups, GM continues to show pickup truck segment leadership with share gains in the quarter thanks to the North America Truck of the Year Chevrolet Silverado and all-new GMC Sierra. GM’s mid-car and mid-utility crossover segments also saw retail sales gains on the strength of mid-cars Saturn Aura, Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Impala, and mid-utility crossovers GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave.

Note: Global sales results are based on preliminary numbers reported and have been rounded.



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