In 2008, when a financial crisis of massive proportions was only just starting to make itself known to homeowners and car buyers, the market share owned by this large SUV segment slid to 2.7% from 3.5% in 2007.
GM’s market share in the category declined to 58.9% from 60.7% in 2007 as sales of the quartet – Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, and Yukon XL – slid 38%, slightly worse than the loss achieved by the overarching segment. Suddenly only 8.3% of GM’s U.S. volume was generated by these big sport-utilities, including the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV.