| Last month, Detroit auto manufacturer General Motors | | | | campaign launched by the General Motors subsidiary |
| sold 326,320 vehicles. This is down by 24 percent as | | | | which pitted the Aura against the Toyota Camry and |
| compared to the number of vehicles the company has | | | | the Honda Accord. Aside from the Saturn Aura, the |
| sold for the same month last year. The decline in sale | | | | three new crossovers using the General Motors |
| is the effect of the company's decision to reduce the | | | | Lambda platform are performing well in the market. |
| number of vehicles sold to rental fleets. | | | | The Saturn brake rotor-equipped Saturn Outlook, the |
| "Given the planned reduction in daily rental sales, we | | | | GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave allowed General |
| expected June would be a tough comparison to a | | | | Motors to have a foothold in the growing crossover |
| year ago," said Mark LaNeve, the vice president of | | | | SUV segment. Combined, more than 12,000 units of |
| General Motors North America Sales, Service and | | | | the Outlook, Acadia, and the Enclave were already |
| Marketing. "Our retail performance for the month was | | | | sold. In the past, the crossover market is dominated by |
| also below the solid running rate we've experienced | | | | Asian carmakers, but with the introduction of these |
| for the first half of the year which we attribute to a | | | | three crossovers, General Motors is succeeding in |
| soft industry and lower incentive spending than our | | | | making a name for itself in the crowded class. |
| competitors. However, we continue to believe that | | | | "We're seeing increased residual values for our |
| maintaining a disciplined approach to both incentives | | | | products as a result of staying aligned and disciplined |
| and daily rental car sales is key to making our | | | | to our North American turnaround and market growth |
| marketing strategy work in the long run." | | | | plans," said LaNeve. "For customers, this means |
| Although sales for the carmaker is down, the | | | | providing industry-leading products in terms of design, |
| company still has something to celebrate as new | | | | segment fuel economy, warranty coverage and |
| vehicles are receiving positive responses from car | | | | performance. This translates to a beneficial cost of |
| buyers and auto experts. | | | | ownership experience. With new products such as the |
| "We continue our focus on the retail side of the | | | | Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Malibu coming to dealer |
| equation and first-half results were solid," said LaNeve. | | | | showrooms later this year, we expect to build on this |
| "We are delighted with the continuing success of new | | | | customer enthusiasm." |
| products, especially the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook | | | | Aside from the three new crossovers, other General |
| and Buick Enclave. As with many of our vehicles, | | | | Motors vehicles which have performed well in the |
| these all-new crossovers offer great fuel economy, | | | | market are the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC |
| terrific performance and outstanding value. For | | | | Sierra. These two pickup trucks are marketed by |
| example, a year ago we were selling only about 3,000 | | | | General Motors by pointing out that it leads its |
| mid-utility crossover vehicles. This June we blew the | | | | respective class in terms of fuel efficiency. Aside from |
| doors off the segment with deliveries in excess of | | | | fuel efficiency, the two trucks are also offered with |
| 15,000." | | | | the best warranty package in their class. The |
| The reigning North America Car of the Year, the | | | | combination of which made the two light trucks a |
| Saturn Aura, posted an increase in sale. The increased | | | | favorite among auto buyers. |
| sale may be attributed to the aggressive marketing | | | | |