Demonstrating how little Americans care about GM’s recall calamity, the company’s June sales figures were the largest since 2007. GM dealers delivered 267,461 vehicles to Americans last month. That is up one percent compared to a year ago.
However, there were two fewer selling days in June 2013. Adjusting for that discrepancy, GM’s sales were up nine percent.
Furthermore, when compiled, the first six months of 2014 brought GM’s best sales period since 2008 – the year before the company’s bankruptcy. The company had rebuilt so much goodwill since its Chapter 11 restructuring that some analysts were concerned the recalls could affect sales.
The automaker has recalled 25 million vehicles this year. Just yesterday, we published a story about the American Giant recalling another 7.6 million vehicles. It also increased the tally of deaths and injuries, by three and eight, respectively. For those who are keeping count, that is 16 total deaths and 62 total injuries.
It is startling that the corporation’s sales were bulletproof through a public relations crisis. On the other hand, the people need their Cadillac Escalades (up 57%), Buick Encores (up 82%), and GMC Yukons (up 120%).
We shall see if GM’s momentum slows in the second half of the year, as the company remains in the news for all of the wrong reasons.
By Nico Grant
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