General Motors CEO Dan Akerson predicts that GM will gain U.S. market share in 2014 as a slew of new and redesigned vehicles hit the market.
"Our goals are to see a modest increase in overall market share again next year," Akerson told Automotive News this week. He cited strong demand and critical praise for several recently launched nameplates, including the Chevrolet Impala sedan and the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.
GM's U.S. market share this year through October edged up to 18.1 percent, from 18 percent a year earlier, according to the Automotive News Data Center. GM says it has gained nearly a half point of retail market share after its decision to limit fleet sales.
Akerson said that GM "can gain market share fast" from the influx of fresh product, but said he's more interested in maintaining solid pricing and driving up residual values. He said GM's average transaction price in October -- which he didn't disclose but which TrueCar has pegged at $35,268 -- hit a record high.
Increasing incentives to gain share "would erode our competitive position," he said. "We've got to reposition our brands."
