GM Financial Completes Transition to Captive in Q1
Executives with the former AmeriCredit Corp. described GM Financial’s transition to General Motors’ captive finance source as ‘substantially complete’ during its recent first-quarter earnings call.

FORT WORTH, Texas — In a scheduled call with investment analysts to announce General Motors Financial Co. Inc.’s first-quarter results, CFO Chris Choate said the process of converting the auto finance company formerly known as AmeriCredit Corp. into GM’s global captive finance company has reached its end.
“Our evolution as a full captive is substantially complete, and we are entering a full captive expansion phase,” Choate said. “… Looking forward, we’re looking to increase our share of prime loan in North America, continue to grow our floorplan strategically, expand our customer relationship management to enhance loyalty and retention.”
When GM acquired AmeriCredit in 2010, the auto finance market was in the early stages of a rebound after the Great Recession spurred an industrywide tightening of lending guidelines and access to credit, particularly for subprime and nearprime car buyers. Seven years later, the landscape has changed considerably, but Choate said GM Financial remains focused on prime retail and leasing contracts.
“In the used-vehicle financing space, we have allowed our market share in that space to erode dramatically,” he said. “If you go back over a two- or three-year time period, our presence in that used-vehicle financing space as the market got a little frothier and really became too narrowly priced. … We still have a presence but it’s way down from what it was.”
Choate said the company counted $6.5 billion in sales contracts at the end of the first quarter, compared to $4.1 billion in the year-ago period. Lease originations fell slightly, from $6.8 billion in the first quarter of 2016 to $6.3 billion in 2017.
Focusing on prime credit consumers allowed GM Financial to buck an industrywide trend toward increased auto loan delinquencies. The share of loans 31 to 60 days delinquent declined from 3.1% in the year-ago quarter to 2.8%, while accounts more than 60 days delinquent fell from 1.4% to 1.2%. Annualized net charge-offs were flat at 1.9%.
All told, the captive’s announced net income for the quarter was $202 million, a marked improvement from the $164 million GM Financial earned in the first quarter of 2016.
“As GM has pointed out in their communications over the last year or more GM Financial is a very strategic business. We are very well-positioned for profitable growth and contribution to overall enterprise value,” Choate said. “And GM Financial’s overall objective is to support GM vehicle sales while achieving appropriate risk-adjusted returns.”
More F&I

Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →
Humble and Hungry: 12 Rules for an F&I Life
Dustin Gingerich, with a decade in the F&I business under his belt, shares his thoughts on leadership, building trust with customers, and the importance of learning and innovation.
Read More →
Focus on the Opening
F&I managers must learn as much as possible about their customers, starting before they walk into their offices. The bulk of today’s consumers expect that, and good results will follow.
Read More →
F&I Reaches for the Sky
The increasingly important profit center continued making gains in the first quarter, according to StoneEagle data, ancillary products proving more popular as consumers hold onto their buys longer.
Read More →
What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program
When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.
Read More →
The 90/10 Rule
In this video, Ryan Ruff explains the rule that elite sales professionals use to turn ordinary conversations into unforgettable customer experiences.
Read More →