GM Korea behind one out of 3 compact SUVs sold Q1 in US

[Photo provided by GM Korea]

One out of every three compact sport utility vehicles sold in the United States during the first three months this year has been shipped by GM Korea.

According to GM Korea on Sunday, its flagship model Chevrolet Trailblazer sold 25,024 units in the first quarter, taking up a 10 percent share in the U.S. compact SUV market. It was the second largest among the 15 models of the segment.

Chevy Trailblazer small SUV, launched in June last year, scored a hit as the fastest-selling new vehicle in the U.S. last year, according to data from automotive research firm iSeeCars.com.

Buick Encore GX, which shares chassis and powertrain with Chey Trailblazer, sold fifth-largest 18,435 units in the January-March period, Chevy Trax sixth-largest 16,955 units. Buick Encore sold 6,229 units.

Backed by solid demand for the models, GM Korea’s first-quarter U.S. sales of compact SUVs totaled 66,643 units to dominate nearly 30 percent in the U.S. automobile market, a feat for the carmaker grappling with drawn-out labor disputes and semiconductor shortages.

[Photo provided by GM Korea]

After a Seoul court last month freed GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem from the Ministry of Justice’s exit ban, Kazem flew to the GM headquarters to discuss plans for future production of the Korean unit and ongoing semiconductor shortages with the management.

The court officially cancelled the exit ban last week.

Kazem last year was indicted for violating the local labor law and banned from leaving the country after GM Korea was found to have hired about 1,700 laborers dispatched from outsourcing companies to work at its factories. The case is still on trial.

Amid the worldwide chip shortages, GM Korea is running at halved capacity since February and plugged off its Bupyeong first and second factories on April 19-23.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]