Nissan Leaf (1,539) outsells Chevy Volt (1,519) for first time since January

DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported its highest November sales in the United States since 2007, with deliveries up 3 percent versus a year ago to 186,505 vehicles. Year-over-year sales to retail customers were essentially equal to a year ago and sales to fleet customers were up 16 percent.

“In November, we saw strong car and crossover sales and we continue to make inroads with younger customers, import drivers and buyers focused on fuel economy,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “Sales at Cadillac and Buick are benefiting from the buzz generated by new products, including the Buick Verano, Cadillac XTS and Cadillac ATS.”

Sales of GM passenger cars increased 19 percent in November compared with a year ago. Crossovers were up 9 percent and sales of trucks were down 11 percent. Buick and Cadillac had their best November sales since 2006 and 2007, respectively.

• Passenger car sales were up 77 percent at Cadillac, 22 percent at Buick and 13 percent at Chevrolet.
• Combined sales of mini, small and compact cars were up 51 percent compared with a year ago, driven by the new Buick Verano and Chevrolet Spark, a 27 percent increase for the Chevrolet Cruze, a 33 percent increase for the Chevrolet Volt and a 12 percent increase for the Chevrolet Sonic.
• Crossover sales were driven by a 44 percent increase for the GMC Terrain, a 23 percent increase for the Buick Enclave and a 13 percent increase for both the Chevrolet Equinox and the Cadillac SRX.
• Sales of large pickups were 8 percent lower in part due to unexpectedly high competitive incentive activity, which GM did not match.

The average transaction prices for GM vehicles increased $750 per unit versus a year ago, even though the company’s car and crossover mix increased from 56 percent of total sales to 62 percent. ATPs also increased about $190 per unit from October, when the car and crossover mix was 60 percent.

“The East Coast’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Sandy helped drive the November SAAR materially higher, but it benefited our competitors more than GM, since they rely on the region for more of their sales,” McNeil said.

“It’s clear that the industry will come in at the high end of our full-year sales forecast,” he added. “Exactly how much growth we can expect next year will depend in part on how Congress and the president resolve the fiscal cliff issue. Consumers hate uncertainty, so an agreement on ways to reduce long-term federal budget deficits could remove an impediment to growth.”

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” “believe,” “commit,” “intend,” “continue,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “projected,” “positioned” or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.

Nissan North America Sets New November Sales Record
-Nissan and Infiniti brands each post record November sales-

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported record November U.S. sales of 96,197 units versus 85,182 units a year earlier, up 12.9 percent. Nissan Division set a new November record, with sales up 9.8 percent for the month over the prior year at 84,300 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were 11,897, up 41.2 percent over the prior year, also a November record.

NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS

• Nissan Division posted sales of 84,300 units, up 9.8 percent from last November’s 76,754 units, making it Nissan’s best November ever.
• Pathfinder SUV sales rose 249.5 percent to 8,097 units, led by the all-new 2013 Pathfinder that went on sale in November.
• The all-electric Nissan LEAF recorded strong sales of 1,539 units in October, up 129 percent from the prior year at 672 units.
• Rogue crossover sales hit a new November record at 12,662 units, an increase of 16.8 percent versus year-ago sales of 10,845.
• Altima sales remained strong in November at 20,305 units, with year-to-date deliveries up 14.8 percent over its 2011 total.

“Nissan’s significant portfolio refresh of five new models in 15 months is showing results with the new Pathfinder driving sales of the model up nearly 250 percent,” said Al Castignetti, vice president, Nissan Division.

INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS

• Infiniti QX sales of 2,121 was an increase of 46.7 percent in November, the best month in the full-size luxury SUV’s history.
• The all-new Infiniti JX 7-passenger luxury crossover had sales of 2,529 units in November, and 18,966 have been delivered since it went on sale in March.
• Overall, total sales of 6,275 for all Infiniti crossovers and sport utility vehicles in November more than doubled versus prior year.
• The Infiniti G Line had an increase of 7.3 percent for the month, with 4,838 sport sedans, coupes and convertibles being delivered.
• Infiniti had the best November in its history.

“November was a fantastic month for Infiniti, with sales of each of our crossovers and sport utility vehicles showing an increase and contributing to the best November since we started sales in 1989,” said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Americas. “We expect showroom traffic to remain strong through the holiday gift-giving season, as our Winter Limited Engagement Event continues through January 2.”

NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. November had 25 selling days both in 2012 and 2011.

* All numbers include Hawaii

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($118.95 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.