General Motors sales up 59 percent in Middle East region

"For 70 years General Motors has been the global automotive market leader and is proud of its long heritage in the Middle East and excellent relationship with customers," said Terry B. Johnsson, Managing Director of GM Middle East. "These impressive results and our record performance for the year to date bear testament to the strength, innovation and leadership of our brands.

"The full line up of vehicles that GM brings to the region will be extended in 2005 with new models such as the Corvette C6, Cadillac STS, Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL and the Hummer H3. New powertrains bring advanced power and durability to the vehicles, and, combined with greater fuel economy and technological advances, will make GM's offer across the region even more appealing."

All-time Industry Sales Records Set by GM Trucks
GM's truck lineup posted industry-record September sales internationally. Full-size pickups and sport utility vehicles both set industry sales records, with full-size pickup deliveries (108,742) posting a 42 percent gain led by record Chevrolet full-size pickup sales (up 41 percent). Deliveries of medium pickups were up 33 percent (16,022).

GM again set a new industry benchmark for utility vehicle sales. SUV sales (134,819) improved 35 percent compared to year-ago levels, surpassing the 100,000-unit sales mark for the sixth month this year. Third-quarter utility sales gained 12 percent (382,076), also setting another record.

September deliveries of medium utilities (54,212) improved 41 percent, led by record Chevrolet TrailBlazer sales, up 57 percent (28,175) and record GMC Envoy sales, up 62 percent (14,792). Medium utility sales increased 12 percent in the third quarter (160,954), setting an industry record.

These strong sales results follow closely on the heels of GM's regional launch of its 2005 truck line up, held last week for retailers and members of the press in Salalah, Oman. With GM truck sales up 40 percent on the same period last year throughout the region, General Motors Middle East is making a growing contribution to the international success of the trucks segment.