General Motors Sales Data, Trends & Analysis for the U.S Automotive Market
General Motors (GM) is one of the world’s largest automakers, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts, and provides financial services. GM’s four core automobile brands are Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick. Chevrolet is GM’s most popular brand, known for its affordable and reliable cars, SUVs, and trucks. GMC is known for its premium trucks and SUVs, while Cadillac is GM’s luxury brand. Buick is known for its upscale cars and SUVs. GM vehicles are sold in over 150 countries around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people worldwide.
Brands under General Motors include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. GM also has a lot of discontinued brands under its umbrella, including Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Opel/Vauxhall. GM has been making strategic moves to focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous technology. The company has set ambitious targets for launching EVs under its existing brands and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2040. This includes a vision to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035.
General Motors U.S Sales Figures & Recent Highlights
General Motors (GM) was founded in 1908 by William C. Durant. Since its inception, GM has been a dominant player in the U.S. automotive industry. Over the years, GM introduced several iconic models and brands, solidifying its position as one of the “Big Three” automakers in the U.S., alongside Ford and, historically, Chrysler (now part of Stellantis). GM has remained one of the top auto manufacturers in the U.S. Its brands, especially Chevrolet and GMC, have maintained strong sales, particularly in the truck and SUV segments, which have seen significant growth in demand in recent years.
GM has made a strategic pivot towards electric vehicles. The Chevrolet Bolt was one of the first affordable EVs with a long range available in the U.S. market. Furthermore, GM announced an ambitious plan to offer 30 all-electric models globally by 2025 and aims for carbon neutrality by 2040. The revival of the Hummer brand as the GMC Hummer EV and the announcement of the Cadillac LYRIQ are examples of GM’s aggressive push into the EV market. GM’s subsidiary, Cruise, focuses on autonomous driving technology and has been testing its self-driving cars in several cities. GM has made significant investments in this area, highlighting its commitment to autonomous mobility.
While GM faced significant challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, leading to a government-backed bankruptcy and restructuring in 2009, the company has since rebounded. In the years following the restructuring, GM has posted profits and strengthened its balance sheet, although, like other automakers, it faces challenges like global supply chain disruptions and the need for heavy investments in new technologies.
Chevrolet remains a top-selling brand in the U.S., with vehicles like the Silverado, Equinox, and Traverse being popular choices. GMC’s Sierra, a full-sized pickup truck, alongside SUVs like the Yukon, have continued to find favor among U.S. buyers. Cadillac continues to lead GM’s luxury pus and has been focusing on rejuvenating its lineup, introducing SUVs like the XT4, XT5, and XT6, and preparing for an electric future with models like the LYRIQ. While Buick has reduced its sedan offerings, its SUV models, including the Enclave and Encore, have been crucial for its U.S. sales.
General Motors U.S Monthly Sales Data
Below we have a table that shows General Motors sales for the United States automotive market, but this time it is broken out by month. This is on a unit basis. This is General Motors new vehicle sales in the US across all its owned brands.
General Motors Annual Sales, Growth & Market Share in the United States
Below we have a table that shows total General Motors sales volumes for the US automotive market, broken out by year. This data captures all General Motors sales for the entire United States automotive market, including sub-brands.
| Year | Sales | YOY Change | Marketshare | Marketshare Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 71,753 | 0.00 | 32.66 | 0.00 |
| 1974 | 56,096 | -21.82 | 31.78 | -2.77 |
| 1975 | 36,671 | -34.63 | 16.37 | -94.17 |
| 1976 | 50,326 | 37.24 | 20.31 | 19.40 |
| 1977 | 60,276 | 19.77 | 17.26 | -17.66 |
| 1978 | 60,895 | 1.03 | 16.00 | -7.89 |
| 1979 | 64,960 | 6.68 | 13.93 | -14.86 |
| 1980 | 97,816 | 50.58 | 9.86 | -41.26 |
| 1981 | 110,080 | 12.54 | 8.55 | -15.35 |
| 1982 | 96,423 | -12.41 | 7.88 | -8.40 |
| 1983 | 116,948 | 21.29 | 7.09 | -11.17 |
| 1984 | 116,416 | -0.45 | 5.52 | -28.60 |
| 1985 | 632,976 | 443.72 | 17.07 | 67.69 |
| 1986 | 759,583 | 20.00 | 19.07 | 10.50 |
| 1987 | 679,211 | -10.58 | 18.62 | -2.39 |
| 1988 | 704,652 | 3.75 | 18.27 | -1.97 |
| 1989 | 651,428 | -7.55 | 18.69 | 2.27 |
| 1990 | 620,151 | -4.80 | 20.60 | 9.29 |
| 1991 | 531,938 | -14.22 | 19.41 | -6.15 |
| 1992 | 485,154 | -8.80 | 18.69 | -3.88 |
| 1993 | 541,785 | 11.67 | 19.69 | 5.09 |
| 1994 | 490,178 | -9.53 | 20.37 | 3.32 |
| 1995 | 1,032,767 | 110.69 | 37.85 | 46.19 |
| 1996 | 1,362,137 | 31.89 | 49.37 | 23.33 |
| 1997 | 1,323,121 | -2.86 | 45.56 | -8.36 |
| 1998 | 1,258,160 | -4.91 | 40.30 | -13.04 |
| 1999 | 1,218,599 | -3.14 | 41.12 | 1.98 |
| 2000 | 1,137,073 | -6.69 | 40.57 | -1.35 |
| 2001 | 866,611 | -23.79 | 38.10 | -6.46 |
| 2002 | 1,048,245 | 20.96 | 44.08 | 13.55 |
| 2003 | 865,584 | -17.43 | 42.80 | -2.99 |
| 2004 | 485,436 | -43.92 | 34.69 | -23.38 |
| 2005 | 4,335,271 | 793.07 | 25.32 | -36.98 |
| 2006 | 3,961,730 | -8.62 | 23.76 | -6.55 |
| 2007 | 3,709,263 | -6.37 | 22.86 | -3.96 |
| 2008 | 2,886,717 | -22.18 | 21.65 | -5.60 |
| 2009 | 2,054,882 | -28.82 | 19.55 | -10.72 |
| 2010 | 2,188,137 | 6.48 | 18.67 | -4.75 |
| 2011 | 2,495,406 | 14.04 | 19.31 | 3.33 |
| 2012 | 2,795,959 | 12.04 | 17.91 | -7.84 |
| 2013 | 2,776,685 | -0.69 | 17.72 | -1.07 |
| 2014 | 2,923,931 | 5.30 | 17.68 | -0.20 |
| 2015 | 3,067,705 | 4.92 | 17.53 | -0.87 |
| 2016 | 3,026,264 | -1.35 | 17.20 | -1.92 |
| 2017 | 2,986,737 | -1.31 | 17.29 | 0.50 |
| 2018 | 2,934,742 | -1.74 | 16.89 | -2.35 |
| 2019 | 2,870,165 | -2.20 | 16.83 | -0.34 |
| 2020 | 2,537,590 | -11.59 | 17.25 | 2.43 |
| 2021 | 2,269,963 | -10.55 | 15.18 | -13.64 |
| 2022 | 2,268,713 | -0.06 | 16.57 | 8.42 |
| 2023 | 2,580,459 | 13.74 | 16.61 | 0.21 |
| 2024 | 1,942,677 | 0.00 | 15.45 | 0.00 |
General Motors U.S Annual Sales Units & Growth Chart
Below is a visual representation of General Motors’s U.S sales units over time. We have both the General Motors sales units and the growth in the United States market. Click on the items in the legend to see each series by itself.
General Motors U.S Growth Rate & Market Share Chart
Below is the annual growth rate for the General Motors in the United States, shown against the General Motors’ marketshare changes in the United States. This gives you a good look into how the General Motors has faired against the other brands in terms of absolute sales and effect on marketshare. Click on the items in the legend to see each series by itself.
