Robust sales of Sierra and Acadia help GMC to best H1 result since 2008
Beirut-25 July 2012– GMC capped a successful first half of 2012 in the Middle East after recording year-over-year sales growth of 16 percent.
GMC sold 22,295 vehicles over the period, which represented the brand’s highest first half sales period in the region since 2008 due to growing demand for its popular line-up of crossovers, SUVs and pickups.
The strong performance in the first six months of 2012 was driven by a threefold sales increase for the GMC Terrain crossover, which was boosted by its introduction to Saudi Arabia in May.
The Sierra full-size pickup also recorded strong sales growth, up 42 percent year-over-year. The Yukon full-size SUV, GMC’s most popular nameplate, and the Acadia crossover both registered 9 percent sales growth.
The GMC Denali range, which represents GMC’s premium offering, registered a 22 percent sales increase in the first half of 2012. This growth was driven by sales of the Acadia Denali, which witnessed a threefold rise, and the Sierra Denali, which almost doubled sales.
In Saudi Arabia, GMC’s largest market, sales increased by 21 percent due in part to the launch of the Terrain. There was also strong growth in Oman (up 40 percent), Qatar (up 32 percent), Bahrain (up 32 percent) and Lebanon, where sales more than doubled.
The impressive sales figures come at a time when GMC is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the brand. The GMC emblem was first unveiled to the public at the New York International Auto Show in 1912.
“GMC is one of the most respected and best-loved automotive brands in the Middle East, and these strong first half sales prove that its popularity continues to grow in the region,” said Nadim Ghrayeb, GMC Regional Brand Manager for the Middle East at General Motors Middle East Operations.
“We are confident that GMC can maintain this impressive sales growth throughout 2012 due to the recent introduction of the Terrain to Saudi Arabia, and the upcoming launch of the special Heritage Editions to celebrate the brand’s centennial.”