Production for the Chevy Cruze, GM’s second-best selling vehicle (behind the Silverado) was supposed be idled for one week this August, due to a slight lack of market demand. But considering that the Cruze’s sales have spiked, things have changed a bit.
The week of August 26th would be a slow one at the Lordstown, Ohio plant, where U.S.-Spec Cruze is born. Fortunately, this past July recorded record sales for the car, and were substantially higher than last year, at a whopping 70%. That makes for a total of 25,447 Chevy Cruzes sold in the past month.
At that rate, 305,000+ units would be sold within a one year period, and on a year-to-date scale, sales numbers are ahead 23.5% for the 2013 year. And it certainly would be interesting to see how many of those units make up the Cruze Turbo Diesel.
Comments
I was expecting this as they were selling so well in June and then I saw the July numbers. I am glad GM is fast to move to make the choice to add or cut production as needed.
In the past many of the plants could not cut production as they had to pay the workers most of their pay and the coat to shut a plant done. It made it to the point it was cheaper to slow the line and fleet sale the cars. But this affected the resale value of so many cars and hurt the customers of cars like the Grand Prix, Impala, Cobalt and other popular rentals.
New agreements have help change this so production can be adjusted to help keep cost down and inventory manageable.
75,000 + miles in my 2011 Eco and we still like it. I understand why it has become so popular and contend it is still one of the best compact cars out there.
True dat. The Cruze looks great and I don’t see any reason to “freshen” it, they just need to keep cranking them out.
I leased a 2012 Cruze 2LT and absolutely LOVE it! I am considering just buying it outright at the end of the lease, however I want to see what the next generation Cruze looks like. I wish they would add a 2 door and, ideally, a convertible. That would make it about perfect to me!
The new car should do well as it should see more repeat buyers than the Cobalt did. Things will grow here.
Just go with me on this, the back of the Cruze looks like a 2nd cousin to a BMW 7-Series. The shape and rear lights are similar. Plus the car LOOKS wide, unlike all of its “squiggly” syled competitors like the Elantra. The styling doesn’t cut off the corners making it look larger than it is. Right amount of “brightwork” on it too, unlike competitors. This thing is roostering all over the Dart. How does Chevy get this car so right and others so wrong?
Michael,
What “others so wrong” are you referring to? ’14 Impala? Camaro? ’14 Silverado? Corvette? Sonic? Even the 5 model-year-old Equinox? Seems to me these are all winners. And the rest are getting better as we speak.