GM Q3 sales up 8% as EVs set new record

General Motors’ US sales rose 8% in the third quarter on strength across petrol and electric models, with the carmaker setting a quarterly EV record of 66,501 deliveries.

Year to date, GM has sold 144,668 EVs in the US — up 105% on a year earlier — as buyers moved to capture the US$7,500 federal tax credit. Chevrolet’s Equinox EV was the best-selling non-Tesla EV, while Cadillac placed three models in the US luxury EV top 10 through September: Lyriq (#2), Optiq (#5) and Vistiq (#6).

GM said its crossovers and SUVs hit a quarterly high, with GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Envista all posting their best-ever Q3 results. The company remains on track to lead the US full-size pickup market for a sixth straight year and the full-size SUV segment for a 51st consecutive year.

Sales for the first nine months climbed 10% to 2.2 million vehicles, the company’s best pace in a decade. GMC is on course for a record year; Chevrolet Trax led the small-SUV segment in Q3; Buick was the fastest-growing mainstream brand year to date; Cadillac recorded its best Q3 and year-to-date sales since 2013; and fleet arm GM Envolve reported a 20% lift in Q3 sales.

“No one is in a stronger position for a changing U.S. market than GM,” said Duncan Aldred, GM senior vice-president and president of North America. “We have the best lineup of ICE and EV vehicles we’ve ever had. Our brands have grown market share with consistently strong pricing, and low incentives and inventory.”