In the past quarter, General Motors experienced a significant surge in sales, marking its best quarterly performance in more than three years. The Detroit automaker reported a total of 696,086 units sold, a 0.6% increase from the previous year. Notable increases were observed in full-size pickup trucks and all-electric vehicles, with EV deliveries up by 40% to 21,930 units. Despite these positive numbers, electric vehicles only made up 3.2% of GM’s total second-quarter sales.
While GM showed promising results, there are challenges that the auto industry as a whole is facing. One such challenge is the impact of cyberattacks on dealer software provider CDK Global. The ransomware attack on CDK Global disrupted operations for many dealerships in North America, causing delays in sales and affecting customer demand. The industry is still assessing the full extent of the impact of this cyberattack on second-quarter sales.
Despite these challenges, industry forecasters like Cox Automotive and Edmunds are cautiously optimistic about the overall sales performance in the second quarter. Retail demand is expected to slow down, and the industry is anticipating a leveling off in sales compared to the previous year. The auto industry is resilient and has the ability to adapt to unexpected events like the CDK cyberattack.
In addition to General Motors, other automakers like Toyota and Hyundai also reported their second-quarter sales figures. Toyota saw a 9.2% increase in sales, with a total of 621,549 vehicles sold during the period. Hyundai reported a 2.2% increase in sales, selling 214,719 vehicles. However, Kia reported a 6.5% decrease in June sales, with a 2% drop in sales for the first half of the year.
As the auto industry navigates through various challenges, including cyberattacks and changing consumer demand, companies like General Motors, Toyota, and Hyundai are working to adapt and overcome these obstacles. The second quarter of 2021 has shown signs of recovery and resilience in the industry, with companies finding ways to address disruptions and continue serving their customers. Despite uncertainties, there is optimism for a steady growth trajectory in the coming quarters.