As American as apple pie and baseball, Cadillac and Chevrolet had a strong third quarter of 2008 – outside of North America. Cadillac sales were up an impressive 10.7 percent and Chevrolet sold 3 percent more cars outside of their home markets. But things weren’t quite so bright in North America, where the crested wreath’s sales dropped 28 percent and the bowtie sold 16.6 percent fewer cars.
Both brands were buoyed overseas by strong emerging markets, most notably Asia. Cadillac sold 39.2 percent more cars in what the automaker defines as the Asia Pacific market and Chevrolet dealers in China cranked out almost 22 percent more cars.
Perhaps the most impressive feat for GM – though it doesn’t represent as high an increase in raw numbers as it might suggest – is that Saab sold 90.4 percent more cars in Russia during the third quarter of 2008 than it did in the same period in 2009. Perhaps Saab’s air conditioned glove boxes do a nice job of cooling vodka, too.
