END OF YEAR UK - RENAULT VANS - The commercial arm increases sales by 1.5% & Increased market share.

• Renault van sales up 1.5 per cent to 25,842 vehicles in 2016
• Renault van market share grew to 6.8 per cent
• Renault van sales in the UK considerably outpace the van market growth rate
• Strong LCV growth beats 2015’s record year for Renault LCVs in the UK
• Renault has been Europe’s number one LCV manufacturer for eighteen years

Renault van sales experienced a record-breaking year in the UK, growing by 1.5 per cent to 25,842 vehicles in 2016 in a van market that grew by 0.5 per cent, according to official figures released today from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

Renault’s LCV market share for 2016 stood at 6.8 per cent – up 0.1 percentage point on 2015.

The award-winning Trafic is still proving popular with British businesses with 15,271 of the third generation model being sold in the UK in 2016 – up 11.5 per cent versus last year.

Commenting on the results, Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK & Ireland, said: “It’s great to have yet another record-breaking year for Renault vans in the UK having beaten 2015’s record year. With our offering of an innovative and efficient range of vans to suit every business need, supported by our ever-growing Renault Pro+ network, 2016’s performance reflects Renault’s ever-increasing appeal in the UK van market.”

Renault has been Europe’s number one LCV manufacturer for the last eighteen consecutive years and was Europe’s number one electric van manufacturer in 2015.

The Renault LCV range consists of the Kangoo compact van comprising of Kangoo, Kangoo Maxi and 100 per cent electric-in-use Kangoo van Z.E, the Trafic panel van, available in both Passenger and high-roof bodystyles as well as the large Master van in Passenger, Panel and Crew Van specifications. A comprehensive range of converted LCV products are also available to order, built by Renault and Renault-approved coachbuilders. The 100 per cent electric-in-use Twizy Cargo quadricycle is also a part of the LCV line-up – a unique way of transporting smaller items around urban environments with zero emissions in use.

Groupe Renault, which comprises Renault cars, vans and Dacia, significantly outpaced the UK vehicle market during 2016, with sales totalling 137,436 vehicles for a market share of 4.5 per cent – up 7.9 per cent from the year before and outpacing a total market growth of 1.9 per cent. These results make Groupe Renault the fastest growing volume franchise in the UK, outperforming the overall market for the fourth consecutive year. 

	Volume			Market share
	2015	2016	change	2015	2016	change
Renault cars	75,618	85,102	12.5%	2.9%	3.2%	0.3%
Renault LCV	25,458	25,842	1.5%	6.7%	6.8%	0.1%
Dacia	26,228	26,562	1.1%	1%	1%	-
Total Groupe Renault	127,343	137,506	8%	4.2%	4.5%	0.3%

MEXICO - Kia already smashes it's market share for the entire year last year in the first four months of 2016.

• Kia reaches 3.1 per cent market share in Mexico with year to date sales of 18,280
• Korean automaker aims to reach five per cent market share by 2020
• Majority of cars are built locally at new Kia plant in Nuevo Leòn, Mexico

Kia Motors Mexico has captured 3.1 per cent of the domestic automotive market according to figures released by the Mexican Automobile Dealer Association (AMDA) and the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA), thereby exceeding its 2016 year-end market share target of 3.0 per cent in just five months.

This achievement comes only 11 months after the first Kia dealership in Mexico opened its doors and seven months since the state-of-the-art Mexico plant opened in Nuevo Leòn

• Kia reaches 3.1 per cent market share in Mexico with year to date sales of 18,280
• Korean automaker aims to reach five per cent market share by 2020
• Majority of cars are built locally at new Kia plant in Nuevo Leòn, Mexico

Kia Motors Mexico has captured 3.1 per cent of the domestic automotive market according to figures released by the Mexican Automobile Dealer Association (AMDA) and the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA), thereby exceeding its 2016 year-end market share target of 3.0 per cent in just five months.

This achievement comes only 11 months after the first Kia dealership in Mexico opened its doors and seven months since the state-of-the-art Mexico plant opened in Nuevo Leòn, which produces up to 300,000 cars a year – 20 percent of which are for the local market.

According to the report released by both associations, Kia Motors Mexico is the ninth best-selling auto brand in Mexico, registering a total of 18,280 units sold from January to May 2016.

“I am extremely proud of the hard working staff of Kia Motors Mexico and our national dealer network who have enabled us to surpass our 2016 market share goal more than six months ahead of the original target date. We will continue to build on the current momentum as we aim for 45,000 units in 2016 annual sales and 5 per cent market share by 2020," said Horacio Chávez, Managing Director of Kia Motors Mexico.

In May 2016, Kia Motors Mexico reported total sales of 4,610 vehicles for an increase 14.3 per cent compared to the prior month of April. Kia’s best-selling model in May was the Sportage CUV (1,552 units), followed by the subcompact Rio (1,282 units) and Forte (603 units).

Kia Motors Mexico will open a total of 22 new dealer outlets in 2016, bringing the total dealer count to 70 and giving the brand a sales presence that covers 94 per cent of the national territory., which produces up to 300,000 cars a year – 20 percent of which are for the local market.

According to the report released by both associations, Kia Motors Mexico is the ninth best-selling auto brand in Mexico, registering a total of 18,280 units sold from January to May 2016.

“I am extremely proud of the hard working staff of Kia Motors Mexico and our national dealer network who have enabled us to surpass our 2016 market share goal more than six months ahead of the original target date. We will continue to build on the current momentum as we aim for 45,000 units in 2016 annual sales and 5 per cent market share by 2020," said Horacio Chávez, Managing Director of Kia Motors Mexico.

In May 2016, Kia Motors Mexico reported total sales of 4,610 vehicles for an increase 14.3 per cent compared to the prior month of April. Kia’s best-selling model in May was the Sportage CUV (1,552 units), followed by the subcompact Rio (1,282 units) and Forte (603 units).

Kia Motors Mexico will open a total of 22 new dealer outlets in 2016, bringing the total dealer count to 70 and giving the brand a sales presence that covers 94 per cent of the national territory.

USA SALES MARCH - General Motor continues it's growth making 29 months on the bounce for increases.

• GM’s retail market share increased one percentage point in the first quarter of 2016 to an estimated 16.4 percent
• Chevrolet’s hot hand continues: March retail sales up 7 percent year over year; first quarter retail share up about one percentage point
• Best March retail sales for GMC since 2005, up 13 percent
• Best first quarter retail sales for Buick since 2004
• Rental deliveries down 14,000 units year over year, or 33 percent
• Commercial deliveries up for 29^th consecutive month 

General Motors (NYSE: GM) delivered 193,524 vehicles in March to individual or “retail” customers, up 6 percent year over year, driven by a 7 percent increase at Chevrolet and a 13 percent increase at GMC. The strong performance of these two brands has helped GM grow retail deliveries every month since April 2015. Despite significant reductions in daily rental units, total sales were up one percent.

GM’s first quarter sales results versus a year ago underscore the company’s momentum:

• Retail deliveries were up 7 percent, with cars up 14 percent and trucks up 8 percent; total sales were equal to a year ago
• Retail market share was up a full percentage point  
• Commercial deliveries were up 9 percent and have increased year over year for 29 consecutive months
• Sales to Government customers were up 23 percent  
• Daily rental sales were down approximately 43,000 units year over year, or about 36 percent

Chevrolet has been the main engine of growth. The brand’s retail sales were up 10 percent in the first quarter versus a year ago, and its retail market share was up full point year over year to an estimated 11 percent.

“The strong retail and Commercial sales GM has been delivering are the result of a multi-year strategy to strengthen our brands, attract new customers and grow profitably,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “We are growing retail sales faster than the industry, and we are doing it with disciplined incentives and inventories, and lower rental deliveries. Our business is very healthy, and we are going to manage it with conviction to keep it that way.”

GM North America President Alan Batey discussed how GM is growing its retail sales and bucking industry trends around fleet sales, incentives and inventories at a March 23 investor conference hosted by Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. 

Among the highlights:

• GM’s focus on higher margin retail and Commercial sales is enabled by strategic reductions in daily rental deliveries, which will continue through 2016.
• GM is able to maintain Average Transaction Prices (ATP) above the industry average thanks to disciplined incentive spending, smart product bets in the car and crossover segments, and the industry’s most successful truck strategy.
• Well-managed inventory levels support disciplined incentive spending.
• GM’s customer loyalty rates have surpassed pre-recession levels.

These strategies will help GM make the most of today’s strong – and sustainable – industry:

“The underlying strength of the U.S. economy is very positive for auto sales,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “We expect historically low interest rates, strong employment, rising wages and stable fuel prices to continue for the foreseeable future. The Fed’s decision to delay interest rate hikes should extend the current sales cycle, and allow the auto industry to continue to lead the overall U.S. economic recovery, as it has throughout the current cycle.”

March Retail Sales Highlights vs. 2015 (except as noted)

Chevrolet

• Car sales were up 8 percent led by the all-new Malibu, which was up 65 percent, along with the Camaro up 23 percent, the Spark up 4 percent and the Volt up 202 percent.
• The Malibu had its best first quarter since 1980, and approximately 85 percent of sales in March were the all-new model, which is the fastest-selling car in its segment with a “days-to-turn” of 24 days.
• Truck sales were up 6 percent, with the Colorado up 44 percent, the Suburban up 54 percent, Tahoe up 29 percent and Silverado up 2 percent. 
• The Suburban had its best March sales since 2008, and the Colorado had its best March since 2005.
• In the crossover market, the Trax was up 39 percent and the Traverse was up 12 percent.

 GMC

• The brand had its best March since 2005, with sales up 13 percent.
• The Yukon and Yukon XL had their best March since 2008, up 31 percent and 22 percent, respectively.
• Canyon was up 15 percent and the Sierra was up 27 percent.

Buick

• The brand had its best first quarter sales since 2004, up 9 percent, driven by the Regal and Encore.  
• The all-new Cascada convertible is exceeding expectations with more than 800 deliveries in March, its first full month on sale.
• Encore deliveries were up 28 percent in March, driving the crossover’s 27th consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales growth. The vehicle now accounts for more than one-third of Buick deliveries.
• Buick had its highest-ever conquest sales in March, at 46 percent of sales.

Cadillac

• Escalade deliveries were up 12 percent.
• The first-ever CT6 is now arriving in dealer showrooms.
• Cadillac ATPs were the highest in its competitive set, at approximately $55,000, up about $1,700.

Average Transaction Prices (ATP)/Incentives (J.D. Power PIN estimates)

• GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $35,800 in March, up more than $1,500 from February and about $5,000 above the industry average.
• GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATPs was 10.0 percent in March, well below domestic competitors and the industry average of 10.8 percent.

Fleet and Commercial

• GM’s fleet mix in March was approximately 23 percent of total sales, in line with the company’s full-year guidance of 20 percent.
• Commercial sales grew 13 percent, Government sales were up 55 percent and daily rental deliveries were down 33 percent.
• GM’s daily rental mix of total sales was 11 percent.

 Industry Sales

• GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in March was 17.1 million units. Through the first quarter, GM estimates the light vehicle SAAR was 17.4 million units.