GMC Readies Yukon for Export to China, Australia, New Zealand
GMC hopes that it can parlay its success in North America into new markets across the Pacific as it plans on introducing its Yukon SUV to China starting this year and to Australia and New Zealand the year after. GMC had a banner year in 2023 all across North America, with year-over-year sales increases in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. Not only is the volume of sales up, but Denali and AT4 trim levels make up more than half of all models sold in the U.S. and Canada, helping to drive average transaction prices to record highs.
“GMC is in the most exciting era in its history as we expect to grow competitively in our home market while venturing into new ones,” said Duncan Aldred, global vice president for Buick and GMC. “We’re forging our future as a premium truck and SUV brand and our success shows our customers around the world are just as excited as we are for the road ahead.”
The brand had a lot to celebrate in 2023, with record sales of the Sierra pickup in the United States helping to cap off six consecutive years of market share gain in full-size trucks. Meanwhile, the Yukon and Yukon XL took the full-size SUV sales crown in Canada. Those exported Yukons headed across the Pacific won’t be the first full-size GMCs to take on an overseas market, as Sierra 1500 sales started in South Korea last year. The SUVs will join the Chevrolet Corvette and Silverado at GM Specialty Vehicle dealerships in Australia and New Zealand after being converted to right-hand drive.
Australia hit a record in new car sales in 2023, with 1,216,780 units moved. GM is betting the market is ready for some new full-size luxury vehicles and seems to have high hopes that the Denali trim’s cushy interior and 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six and 6.2-liter gasoline V-8 will be big draws. We’ll have to wait to see if Australians will embrace the hulking SUVs, but these high-margin vehicles could be a smart choice as the first salvo from the GMC.
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Australia would probably prefer a Holden Monaro in various versions including ute.
It will be interesting to see if mammoth proportioned trucks/SUV make a real dent in the rest of the world. Pretty much half of GMs production is for China now, so whatever that market prefers likely influences what the rest of us get.
The Monaro was not selling like it used to sell. Also there is nothing to base on off of anymore.
Even down under the best selling vehicles are small Mazda cars and Toyota trucks in crew cab like much of the world.
While they had RWD sedans, coupes and utes the sales had declined much. This is why GM and most American automakers only offer limited imports. Their market is smaller than California.
They used to have the Acadia and it did ok. It was on part size wise as most other models in the market. The Yukon should do well. It will not take a ton of them to be profitable as they will not be cheap.
As for GM production only Buick and Cadillac are influenced by China. The Chevy line is all American influenced. That is why it is heavy CUV.
The market is more about return on investment vs bigger volumes. GM was the largest seller of autos in the world yet they lost money. today they target return on investments.
The new Trax is a new tactic. They made it larger and nicer but removed the AWD to make it lighter and lower cost. They are pushing more value for the dollar. Next the Trailblazer may be retargeted.
The automarket is in for some really tough times so price will be critical in the next few years.
The first in a move to transfer full size SUV production to China. You read it here first, sadly. These used to be made in WI politics stopped that two presidents ago .
I’m surprised they have not been selling them in Australia already. I miss the old Holden and Ford RWD sedans, wagons, ute’s we never got here in the USA.
I thought GM decided to get out of right hand drive production in 2020? Or was that another shortt-erm decision that has been reversed. The sort of decision that gives you confidence that they will be in it for the long haul.