General Motors overcomes US sales drop and China losses to post 3rd
quarter profit of $3 billion
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[October 22, 2024] By
TOM KRISHER
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. sales are down and a once-reliably profitable joint
venture in China is losing money, but General Motors still managed to
post a third quarter profit of $3 billion Tuesday, slightly less than it
made a year ago.
The Detroit automaker reported $48.8 billion in revenue from July
through September, 10% more than last year, aided by U.S. average
vehicle sale prices that were steady with last quarter at over $49,000.
Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said that while overall sales in
the U.S., GM's most profitable market, fell 2.2% in the quarter, much of
that drop was from sales to large fleet buyers. Sales to individuals,
which generally are more profitable, rose 3%.
While other automakers have gotten stuck with too many high-priced
vehicles when many buyers are looking for lower costs, GM has yet to see
such a shift, Jacobson told reporters.
“I think that the consumer has held up remarkably well for us,” he said,
adding that next year should be consistent with this year as the Federal
Reserve continues to reduce interest rates and lower borrowing costs.
“Nothing that we've seen has changed from where we've been the last
several quarters.”
Excluding one-time items, GM had an adjusted profit of $2.96 per share,
beating Wall Street estimates of $2.38, according to FactSet. The
company’s revenue also soundly beat estimates of $44.67 billion.
Shares of General Motors Co. rose 2% before the opening bell Tuesday.
The company’s joint venture in China, though, lost $137 million,
compared with a $192 million profit a year ago. Jacobson said the loss
is a symptom of tough market conditions there, where domestic brands are
turning out well-built products at low costs.
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The Chevrolet logo is seen at a new and used vehicles dealership in
Palatine, Ill., on March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The company, he said, is working
with partner SAIC on restructuring the business, with several key
meetings in the fourth quarter.
“We really haven’t instituted any of the real restructuring yet,” he
said, adding that sales are up and inventory is down. “We believe
that the situation is improving, but there’s still work to do with
our partner,” he said.
Pretax profits in North America rose 13% to $3.98 billion, while
losses narrowed to $435 million at the troubled Cruise autonomous
vehicle unit. Cruise lost its license to run robotaxis in California
after a San Francisco crash last year. The unit has resumed testing
with human safety drivers in three markets and driverless testing in
Houston.
The third-quarter performance allowed GM to raise the low end of its
full-year net income guidance, but it lowered the top end of the
range. The company now expects to make $10.4 billion to $11.1
billion, compared with $10 billion to $11.4 billion previously.
GM said it sold 32,000 electric vehicles during the quarter, with
discounts that were 11 percentage points below the industry average.
CEO Mary Barra said in a letter to shareholders that GM continues to
make progress toward EV profitability. The company expects to
produce 200,000 of them this year.
“We’re seeing demand start to inflect a little bit higher as we’re
building awareness out there for the products,” Jacobson said.
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