GM sales appear resilient amid recalls, dealers optimistic
(Reuters) - In the midst of an historic run of recalls, including over one defect linked to at least 13 deaths, General Motors Co sales are showing resilience.
The No. 1 U.S. automaker is beating the industry average this month, according to one estimate, and more than 10 dealers interviewed by Reuters were upbeat, saying lingering concerns about the safety of the company's current new car lineup are dissipating even as the number of recalls rise.
While dealers report some wariness from owners of GM cars, they say GM's mounting recalls - the 15.8 million vehicles globally recalled in 2014 is more than last year's total U.S. new car sales by all manufacturers -- are not stoking fears.
Nearly two months ago, after her Texas dealership had missed its own March sales target, Ancira Motor Company Vice President April Ancira told Reuters that it would take time for GM to gain back lost customers and that Chevrolet was "suffering". This week, she said that dealership traffic had rebounded from a dip and customer worries have waned. Once-frequent concerned customer calls have declined to a call or two a week.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/23/us-gm-recall-dealers-idUSBREA4M0LK20140523
