OREANDA-NEWS. General Motors’ (NYSE: GM) Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands sold 229,296 vehicles in the United States in November 2015, up 2 percent year over year, with two fewer selling days and sales incentives below the industry average. On a selling-day-adjusted basis, GM’s total sales were up 10 percent.

Sales of Chevrolet trucks rose 10 percent for the 20th consecutive monthly increase. Chevrolet crossovers were up 35 percent for the 12th consecutive monthly increase.

Crossover deliveries were also robust at Buick, where Encore sales, up 12 percent year over year, have now increased for 23 consecutive months. Total Buick crossover sales were up 11 percent. At GMC, crossover deliveries rose 12 percent, driven by a 16 percent gain for the Terrain. Cadillac’s crossover, the SRX, saw a 53 percent increase. Industry-wide, crossovers now account for 40 percent of the retail industry, up from 37 percent a year ago.

“The phenomenal growth of crossovers in a record-setting market is the biggest sales story of 2015,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “Buick was one of the pioneers of the fast-growing small crossover segment with the Encore. Chevrolet’s crossover sales growth is far outpacing the rest of the industry, thanks to the Trax, Equinox and Traverse. And the GMC Terrain is on track to have its best year ever.”

GM’s retail sales were up 4 percent year over year. Adjusted for selling days, GM retail sales were up 14 percent. GM gained an estimated 1.0 points of retail market share to reach 16.5 percent during the month for the company’s eighth consecutive year-over-year increase.

Deliveries to commercial customers were up 6 percent year over year and government deliveries were up 2 percent. Rental sales were down 16 percent per plan. Total fleet sales were down 9 percent.

The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was an estimated 18.2 million units in November. The six-month moving average for the SAAR is now estimated to be 17.9 million units. The industry’s best sales year ever was 2000, when 17.8 million light vehicles were delivered.

“We believe U.S. auto sales will continue to grow in 2016, based on the underlying strength of the economy, and we expect customers will continue to embrace crossovers and SUVs because they are meeting their fundamental needs for utility, comfort and fuel efficiency,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM chief economist.

GM is also building significant momentum in the passenger car and pickup truck markets. At last month’s Los Angeles International Auto Show, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel was named Motor Trend Magazine’s Truck of the Year – a repeat victory for the truck. The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, and the 2016 Chevrolet Volt was named Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal. In addition, the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu begins shipping to dealers today.