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This article presents General Motors’ (NYSE: GM) vehicle sales across various regions, with a detailed focus on several continents, including North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America, and Europe.
The vehicle sales statistics presented are based on GM’s total vehicle sales data extracted from the annual reports. This data encompasses the company’s retail volumes, fleet sales, and vehicles used by dealers in their businesses.
For other key statistics of General Motors, you may find more resources on this page: GM key stats.
Please use the table of contents to navigate this page.
Table Of Contents
Definitions And Overview
O2. What contributes to GM’s significant sales decline in Asia?
Insight & Summary of Observed Trends
Z1. Insight & Summary of GM’s Car Sales By Region
Sales By Region Results
A1. Sales breakdown by region
A2. Sales mix by region
A3. Sales growth by region
Reference, Credits, and Disclosure
S1. References and Credits
S2. Disclosure
Definitions
To help readers understand the content better, the following terms and glossaries have been provided.
Total Vehicle Sales: Per the latest annual report, General Motors defines its total vehicle sales as:
- retail sales (i.e., sales to consumers who purchase new vehicles from dealers or distributors);
- fleet sales (i.e., sales to large and small businesses, governments and daily rental car companies); and
- certain vehicles used by dealers in their business.
Total vehicle sales data includes all sales by joint ventures on a total vehicle basis, not based on the percentage ownership interest in the joint venture. Certain joint venture agreements in China allow for the contractual right to report vehicle sales of non-GM trademarked vehicles by those joint ventures, which are included in the total vehicle sales it reports for China.
While total vehicle sales data does not correlate directly to the revenue it recognizes during a particular period, GM believes it is indicative of the underlying demand for its vehicles.
Total vehicle sales data represents management’s good faith estimate based on sales reported by dealers, distributors and joint ventures; commercially available data sources such as registration and insurance data; and internal estimates and forecasts when other data is unavailable.
North America: North America includes the United States and others.
Asia/Pacific, Middle East, And Africa (APMEA): APMEA includes China and others.
South America: South America includes Brazil and others.
What contributes to GM’s significant sales decline in Asia?
GM’s significant sales decline in Asia can be attributed to several key factors:
- Increased Competition: The rise of local automakers, particularly in China, has intensified competition. Companies like BYD and Geely have made significant penetration in the electric vehicle (EV) market, capturing a larger share of the market.
- Economic Factors: Economic conditions in various Asian countries have impacted consumer spending and confidence. Slower economic growth and trade tensions have played a role in reducing demand for vehicles.
- Regulatory Changes: New regulations and policies in different countries have posed challenges for GM. For example, stricter emissions standards and incentives for EVs have required significant investments in technology and compliance.
- Consumer Preferences: There is a growing preference for domestic brands over foreign ones. Local brands are often perceived as offering better value for money and advanced technology.
- COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic has disrupted the automotive industry, affecting production and sales. Lockdowns and supply chain disruptions have had a significant impact on GM’s operations in Asia.
- Product Portfolio: GM’s product portfolio in Asia has not resonated as strongly with consumers compared to local brands. While GM has introduced new EVs, they have not been enough to offset the decline in sales of traditional vehicles.
- Joint Ventures: GM’s joint ventures in Asia, such as SAIC-GM in China, have faced challenges. For example, the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV, GM’s top-selling vehicle in China, saw a decline in sales.
Despite these challenges, GM is focusing on growing sales and controlling costs to return to profitability in Asia. The company is also investing in new technologies and expanding its EV lineup to better compete in the market.
Insight & Summary of GM’s Car Sales By Region
The following analysis consolidates the trends observed across GM’s vehicle sales in North America, APMEA and South America, as well as in Europe for the 2014–2025 period.
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GM has executed a definitive transition from a sprawling, volume-focused multinational into a highly concentrated North American profit engine.
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North America has solidified its position as the undisputed core of the business, steadily expanding its sales mix to a dominant 54.3% by 2025, underpinned by a robust 7.9% average growth rate over the latest three periods.
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Conversely, APMEA — once GM’s largest volume generator at over 4.6 million units — has suffered severe structural deterioration, bleeding nearly half its volume as competitive pressures intensify across Asian markets.
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South America remains a volatile, single-digit contributor, while the total capitulation of European volumes validates a decisive, margin-protective withdrawal from capital-intensive, low-return overseas operations.
The table below combines GM’s sales in North America, APMEA, and South America, as well as in Europe into a single view for the latest three fiscal years.
GM's Vehicle Sales by Region — Averages
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| GM's Vehicle Sales by Region (3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025)) | |
| North America | 3,210 thousand vehicles |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | 2,485 thousand vehicles |
| South America | 428 thousand vehicles |
| Europe | 2 thousand vehicles |
| Worldwide | 6,125 thousand vehicles |
| GM's Mix of Vehicle Sales by Region (3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025)) | |
| North America | 52.4% |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | 40.5% |
| South America | 7.0% |
| Europe | 0.0% |
| GM's Growth of Vehicle Sales by Region (3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025)) | |
| North America | 7.9% |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | -4.7% |
| South America | -3.6% |
| Europe | 0.0% |
| Worldwide | 1.4% |
All sections cover FY2023–FY2025. Sales averages rounded to nearest whole unit; mix and growth averages rounded to one decimal place. Worldwide retail vehicle sales reflects General Motors' disclosed total. The four regions are independently rounded to the nearest thousand vehicles and sum exactly to Worldwide in FY2023 and FY2025; in FY2024 the four-region sum (6,001 thousand vehicles) is 2 thousand vehicles less than the disclosed Worldwide total (6,003 thousand vehicles) due to rounding.
Sales breakdown by region
View data as table
GM Car Sales (Retail) Breakdown by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | North America | Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | South America | Europe | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3,413 thousand vehicles | 4,380 thousand vehicles | 878 thousand vehicles | 1,261 thousand vehicles | 9,932 thousand vehicles |
| 2015 | 3,613 thousand vehicles | 4,525 thousand vehicles | 645 thousand vehicles | 1,176 thousand vehicles | 9,959 thousand vehicles |
| 2016 | 3,630 thousand vehicles | 4,634 thousand vehicles | 583 thousand vehicles | 1,161 thousand vehicles | 10,008 thousand vehicles |
| 2017 | 3,576 thousand vehicles | 4,670 thousand vehicles | 669 thousand vehicles | 685 thousand vehicles | 9,600 thousand vehicles |
| 2018 | 3,490 thousand vehicles | 4,202 thousand vehicles | 690 thousand vehicles | 4 thousand vehicles | 8,386 thousand vehicles |
| 2019 | 3,367 thousand vehicles | 3,678 thousand vehicles | 669 thousand vehicles | 4 thousand vehicles | 7,718 thousand vehicles |
| 2020 | 2,924 thousand vehicles | 3,431 thousand vehicles | 470 thousand vehicles | 1 thousand vehicles | 6,826 thousand vehicles |
| 2021 | 2,574 thousand vehicles | 3,326 thousand vehicles | 394 thousand vehicles | 2 thousand vehicles | 6,296 thousand vehicles |
| 2022 | 2,680 thousand vehicles | 2,808 thousand vehicles | 451 thousand vehicles | 2 thousand vehicles | 5,941 thousand vehicles |
| 2023 | 3,055 thousand vehicles | 2,676 thousand vehicles | 456 thousand vehicles | 2 thousand vehicles | 6,189 thousand vehicles |
| 2024 | 3,215 thousand vehicles | 2,360 thousand vehicles | 424 thousand vehicles | 2 thousand vehicles | 6,003 thousand vehicles |
| 2025 | 3,361 thousand vehicles | 2,418 thousand vehicles | 403 thousand vehicles | 2 thousand vehicles | 6,184 thousand vehicles |
The definition of GM’s vehicle sales is available here: total vehicle sales.
GM's Vehicle Sales by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| North America | 3,210 thousand vehicles |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | 2,485 thousand vehicles |
| South America | 428 thousand vehicles |
| Europe | 2 thousand vehicles |
| Worldwide | 6,125 thousand vehicles |
Sales averages rounded to nearest whole unit. Worldwide retail vehicle sales reflects General Motors' disclosed total. The four regions are independently rounded to the nearest thousand vehicles and sum exactly to Worldwide in FY2023 and FY2025; in FY2024 the four-region sum (6,001 thousand vehicles) is 2 thousand vehicles less than the disclosed Worldwide total (6,003 thousand vehicles) due to rounding.
Sales mix by region
View data as table
GM Car Sales (Retail) Mix by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | North America | Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | South America | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 34.4% | 44.1% | 8.8% | 12.7% |
| 2015 | 36.3% | 45.4% | 6.5% | 11.8% |
| 2016 | 36.3% | 46.3% | 5.8% | 11.6% |
| 2017 | 37.3% | 48.6% | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| 2018 | 41.6% | 50.1% | 8.2% | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 43.6% | 47.7% | 8.7% | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.8% | 50.3% | 6.9% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 40.9% | 52.8% | 6.3% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 45.1% | 47.3% | 7.6% | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 49.4% | 43.2% | 7.4% | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 53.6% | 39.3% | 7.1% | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 54.3% | 39.1% | 6.5% | 0.0% |
The definition of GM’s vehicle sales is available here: total vehicle sales.
GM's Mix of Vehicle Sales by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| North America | 52.4% |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | 40.5% |
| South America | 7.0% |
| Europe | 0.0% |
Mix rounded to one decimal place.
Sales growth by region
View data as table
GM Car Sales (Retail) Growth by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | North America | Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | South America | Europe | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5.9% | 3.3% | -26.5% | -6.7% | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | 2.4% | -9.6% | -1.3% | 0.5% |
| 2017 | -1.5% | 0.8% | 14.8% | -41.0% | -4.1% |
| 2018 | -2.4% | -10.0% | 3.1% | -99.4% | -12.6% |
| 2019 | -3.5% | -12.5% | -3.0% | 0.0% | -8.0% |
| 2020 | -13.2% | -6.7% | -29.7% | -75.0% | -11.6% |
| 2021 | -12.0% | -3.1% | -16.2% | 100.0% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -15.6% | 14.5% | 0.0% | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | -4.7% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | -11.8% | -7.0% | 0.0% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | 2.5% | -5.0% | 0.0% | 3.0% |
The definition of GM’s vehicle sales is available here: total vehicle sales.
GM's Growth of Vehicle Sales by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| North America | 7.9% |
| Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa (APMEA) | -4.7% |
| South America | -3.6% |
| Europe | 0.0% |
| Worldwide | 1.4% |
Growth rounded to one decimal place.
Credits and References
1. All sales figures presented were obtained and referenced from General Motors’ annual reports published on the company’s investor relations page: GM News Releases.
2. Pexels Images.
Disclosure
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