May, GM's Best Month in 2009

Although May was surely one of the difficult months in GM's history, with bankruptcy threats all around, the American manufacturer actually did pretty well in terms of sales. The company says May brought the highest monthly sales performance so far in 2009, with deliveries totaling 191,875 units. Translate this into percentages and you get a 29.6 percent decrease compared with the same period of the last year but a 11 percent increase from the previous month.

More specifically, General Motors sold 110,866 trucks - including crossovers - and 81,009 cars, a 38 percent increase compared with May 2008.

Chevrolet is the brand that pulled GM's sales forward, with Camaro, Malibu, Cobalt, Corvette and Aveo increasing monthly figures by 28 percent. Buick increased its sales as well (17 percent), with LaCrosse deliveries growing 24 percent. GMC sales were up 17 percent while Cadillac Escalade climbed nearly 14 percent.

"We were able to record our best monthly sales result of the year in May as we are seeing more positive signs in housing and consumer confidence in the market," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.

"Those signs, along with more clarity on the New GM, are providing some additional consumer confidence. With GM's reinvention, the company has cleared a path for future success supported by world-class products such as the new Chevy Camaro, Equinox, Traverse and Malibu. We have compelling new offers in the marketplace, including reduced-rate financing available through GMAC, that encourage our customers to visit a showroom and buy today."

In terms of hybrids, the company sold a total of 1,739 units, with annual sales now going as high as 6,895.