The Chevrolet Spark might not be the most expensive or cutting-edge of vehicles, but it hasn’t stopped the little car from being a quiet success in terms of sales. Mustering 26,869 sales in its first 12 months in the U.S. market, the Chevy Spark is moving off lots 35% higher than originally anticipated, according to Automotive News. Globally, the Spark accounts for 720,000 sales since its introduction in 2009.
Year-to-date, GM has currently sold a little over 14,000 Chevy Spark models in America — just behind that of the trendy Fiat 500, which leads the microcar class at 17,562 units. The Scion iQ and Smart ForTwo lag far behind. The Spark also currently has the lowest average transaction price in the segment. And even with the Spark exceeding expectations, momentum is expected to pick up for the 2014 model year, as the lineup welcomes the all-electric Spark EV, a CVT for the automatic model, and new color options (Techno Pink is being replaced by a more mauve Grape Ice).
Photo: Steven Pham
Comments
Must be sad for Toyota that a Chevy Spark is outselling their Yaris LOL!
Gotta be a result of the price point rather than style. That thing is ug-gu-ly!
Same can be said for the Nissan Versa
Chevrolet should begin posting news about the early arrivals and fast sales of the Spark EV in California. There is plenty of customer interest in this EV, such that one dealer in Arizona is building a list for future sales when the Spark EV goes national. It is the most efficient four door and four seat vehicle in the world with a MPGe of 118 (EPA rating for electrics).
GM must promote more of the small city cars, even bring over the Opel Adam. The idea is to take over the sales of the imports from Fiat, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. More GM cars sales allows GM to reduce prices for the larger cars.
For those who are surprised by the high U.S. sales in the first year (2012-2013), this same Spark has been sold in many other nations as the Matiz, and is also assembled in other nation, not just South Korea. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Spark
I recommend GM to open a new Spark assembly in America, especially for the Spark EV, as it will be the best selling EV in America soon!
The Wikipedia authors err when mingling the Chevrolet Spark with the Daewoo Matiz as one and the same nameplate.
The Matiz is a Daewoo car, developed by Daewoo for Daewoo, even if the Daewoo Matiz got rebaptised as Chevrolet Matiz in 2004, when the Daewoo brand was abandoned and renamed Chevrolet.
The Chevrolet Spark was developed from the beginning as a GM world car. It also never carried the Daewoo nameplate (except, maybe, in Korea, in the same way as it is marketed as Holden Spark in Australia and New Zealand).
That’s how I understand it. The old Matiz rode on a Daewoo platform, whereas the Spark was built on a SWB Gamma platform; as an aforementioned ‘world car’.
It will be interesting to see if GM decides to sell Spark/Spark EV as a Vauxhall & Opel in Europe as it has done with its Volt & Ampera perhaps boomerang lights & new grill could create a new model.
The Matiz is a car designed as a Fiat Cinquecento replacement a 500 before the new/currant 500. Fiat didn’t like it so its original designers eventually sold it to Daewoo who were looking for a small car to complement its Nubera & Esperado (later came the rebadged SSangyong 4×4’s) it’s this Matiz that became the Chevy Matiz & is still sold in some countries.
I wonder if price point and gas mileage are the real driver of sales as the country continues to have high gas prices yet no one squawks about it.
From the first time I saw it, my only real complaint has been the grossly oversized headlights. They remind me of stereotypical alien eyes.
Nice to hear it has sold very well. Even though I’m not personally going to buy a microcar, I think the market for them will grow over time as people make fuel economy higher on their list of determining what they will buy. Note that it’s not the government forcing this on those people. Limited income and high gas prices are changing the way buyers look at the car market.
The CVT with its better fuel economy should help boost sales even further.
Other than that, as it’s an older car, i wonder how many years it will be until it gets a total redesign on a new platform?
The success of the Chevy Spark in the US could open door for the Opel Adam as well. Maby we will see in the future a Buick badged version of the Adam on the roads.
Where is the Spark for the North American market built?
In North America, or is it imported from, say, Korea?
Just got one Spark four days ago,it’s first small car i ever have,and also first american car i purchased. Guys,i am surprised,but i like it little car.Very good on mpg.,around 32-35 combine city and hway, not bad pick up for 1.2l engine ,i have 5 speed manual. So i have two brand new bmw in my garage (x5,535i),but i have a fun to drive Spark.Recomend for everyone,better when Smart and IQ.