GM Korea posts 275,000 vehicle sales in H1, up 11% on-year

GM Korea sold more than 270,000 vehicles in the first half of this year, with the Chevrolet Trax Crossover and Trailblazer driving growth in overseas markets.

GM Korea disclosed Tuesday that it sold a total of 275,523 vehicles from January through June, up 10.5 percent from the same period last year. Of that total, 5,271 units were sold domestically and 270,252 were exported.

Exports accounted for roughly 98 percent of first-half sales, meaning overseas demand in effect determined the company's overall performance.

Second-quarter results also showed growth. GM Korea sold 142,975 vehicles in the second quarter, up 4.5 percent from 136,838 units in the same period last year.

In June alone, the company sold 48,134 vehicles, a 6.6 percent increase from the same month a year earlier. Domestic sales came to 1,049 units, while exports reached 47,085. June marked the fifth month this year — following January, March, April and May — that GM Korea surpassed the 40,000-unit monthly threshold.

The Trax Crossover and Trailblazer led June export performance. The Chevrolet Trax Crossover, including derivative models, sold 30,503 units in overseas markets, up 5.9 percent from the same month last year. The Chevrolet Trailblazer, also including derivative models, exported 16,582 units, a 9.9 percent increase year on year.

Both models were developed and produced with deep involvement from GM Korea. The Trax Crossover in particular has established itself as a core export model, securing steady demand in major overseas markets including North America.

GM Korea is also expanding its marketing efforts to broaden customer touchpoints for the Chevrolet brand. In April, the company held a launch event for its creator partnership program "CODE G: Mission X" at a lifestyle venue in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, kicking off activities to extend the GM and Chevrolet brand experience through content. The program offers participating creators content production opportunities and networking, with plans to produce content that blends the brand with lifestyle elements for the domestic market.

Gustavo Colossi, vice president of sales, service and marketing at GM Korea, said the Chevrolet Trax Crossover and Trailblazer — models that GM Korea handled from planning and design through engineering and production — "continued their solid sales momentum in global markets in June, leading our first-half performance." He added that the company would "work to expand customer engagement through summer events and sustain positive market momentum in the second half of the year."

In the domestic market, GM Korea is expanding purchase incentives throughout July. Customers buying the Trax Crossover, Trailblazer or the American premium pickup truck Sierra can receive installment financing as well as cash and fuel cost support.

Chevrolet will also run its "Chevrolet Homecoming Festival" in July, continuing from May and June. Customers who own older Chevrolet or GM Korea models — including the Spark, Matiz, Damas, Labo, Cruze, Aveo, Orlando, Lacetti and Malibu — and purchase a Trax Crossover or Trailblazer will receive 1 million won ($646).

Through the "Chevrolet Trade-In Program," customers who own select older models and sell their vehicle to a designated used-car dealer before purchasing a Trax Crossover or Trailblazer will receive 700,000 won. Military personnel, civilian military employees, police officers and firefighters — as well as their immediate family members — will receive 300,000 won when purchasing either model.