G.M. said auto product sales fell in 2020 but were being up in the last 3 months of the calendar year.

Normal Motors reported its car revenue in the United States fell 12 p.c in 2020, but increased 5 p.c in the fourth quarter from the very same interval a yr earlier, a hopeful signal for the auto business at the close of a hard year.

The automaker described strong performances from its Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac brands in the final 3 months of the yr. They offset a 10 per cent fall in profits of Buick motor vehicles.

Overall, G.M. offered 2.5 million vehicles and light vans in 2020, down from nearly 2.9 million a yr before.

Auto profits fell sharply very last spring as buyers stayed away from dealerships because of the coronavirus pandemic. G.M. and other automakers ended up forced to halt production for most of the 2nd quarter when authorities officers pressured quite a few organizations to shut down to end the distribute of the virus.

But product sales rebounded the moment factories restarted in part because of pent-up desire for vehicles and vans. Some People purchased autos in purchase to stay clear of mass transit and shared rides. It aided that men and women had a lot more disposable earnings because they were being paying out less on travel, eating and amusement.

G.M. stated its sturdy gross sales momentum continued by means of the conclusion of the year. The company offered 771,323 vehicles and gentle trucks in the last 3 months of last 12 months in what it explained as its strongest fourth quarter considering the fact that 2007.

“We appear ahead to an inflection position for the U.S. economic system in spring,” G.M.’s main economist, Elaine Buckberg, said in a assertion. “Widening vaccination costs and warmer temperature should enable buyers and firms to return to a additional regular range of routines, lifting the work industry, client sentiment and automobile demand from customers.”

Most other automakers are expected to report 2020 revenue totals later on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, Toyota Motor claimed it offered 2.1 million cars and light vans in the United States previous yr, 11 p.c less than in 2019. In December, even so, its product sales jumped far more than 20 per cent, lifted by potent desire for activity-utility cars and pickup trucks.