JEDDAH: General Motors reported total sales of 11,651 vehicles in March, which represented an increase of 13 percent over March 2010. The strong performance in March, which represented a fourth consecutive month of double-digit growth, contributed to total sales of 29,870 vehicles for the first quarter of the year - up 16 percent compared to a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Retail sales - purchases made by individual customers - in March soared 50 percent and increased 40 percent during the first quarter. Retail sales represented a healthy 72 percent of the company's total sales in the region in March and 69 percent for the first quarter. "GM Middle East had a good month and a solid first quarter of 2011, despite some unrest in the region and the tragic disasters in Japan," said John Stadwick, president and managing director of GM Middle East Operations. "As we strive to focus on providing our customers with the best experience, both in sales and service, our customers are responding favorably to our cars, crossovers and sport utility vehicles." Combined sales for GM's newly launched vehicles - the Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, Camaro and Traverse; and Cadillac SRX and CTS Coupe - increased 39 percent during March and were up 13 percent for the first three months of the year. Chevrolet continues to attract new customers to the brand and posted vehicle sales growth of 22 percent in March and 28 percent for the first three months of 2011. Total sales of GM's passenger cars improved 22 percent during March and grew by 33.5 percent over the first quarter.
