DETROIT, Michigan - General Motors said Tuesday its US sales tumbled 12 percent in February, as the automaker failed to get a big enough lift from new vehicles to keep growing.
GM said it sold 309,375 new cars and trucks in February. That included light truck sales of 179,390 -- down 8.5 percent -- and car sales of 129,985, down 17 percent.
"The calendar year is starting off slower than expected, for both GM and the industry," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.
"While our daily rental volume is down significantly compared to last year, we are pleased with growing retail sales of key launch vehicles, including the Pontiac G6, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Cobalt and Equinox, and Cadillac STS. Sales of these products continue to strengthen as production ramps up."
LaNeve said 17 new vehicle launches are planned in 2005, "which should add to that momentum."
But GM revised downward its outlook for North American production in the first quarter to 1.18 million vehicles (470,000 cars and 710,000 trucks), from last month's guidance of 1.225 million.
That is also below the 1.345 million vehicles (525,000 cars and 820,000 trucks) in the same period in 2004.
03/01/2005 18:59 GMT