Despite rumors of GM Korea’s impending death, the business is here, and it’s kicking. And it’s working harder than ever to meet 2018 Chevrolet Trax demand. Pulse reported on Monday that South Korea’s number one vehicle export for 2017 will be Chevy’s subcompact crossover.
While we await final numbers, it would be the Trax’s second year in a row to earn the title after it dethroned the Hyundai Accent last year. Through November of this year, GM Korea built 233,503 units for export; American buyers purchased 79,016 of them. Analysts believe the figure might climb past 250,000 Traxs built after GM Korea built 240,351 units last year. Production is up 7.4 percent over this time last year.
The Chevy Trax has also created a problem for another once-popular model: the Sonic. Following the Trax’s debut in the U.S., sales of the Sonic have tanked. Though, partial blame is likely on the market’s unquenched thirst for crossovers. The Trax also commands much higher transaction prices of about $5,100 more than the Sonic. This year, buyers have purchased a fraction of Sonics compared to Traxs.
Chevrolet plans to stick by both segments, despite the Sonic’s waning popularity. The Sonic will stick around just in case another recession takes place or fuel prices spike.
Comments
GM has been placed by too many great r&d centers:S Korea, Russelheim, Shanghai, Detroit. Ford, on the flip, only has two, and even with inferior product still does great in the US and EU.
Why buy a Sonic when you can get a Trax or Buick Encore for about the same price. My daughter bought a new Buick Encore for $18,900 about a year ago, and I see them advertised for just over $19,000 again. The Trax is about the same price and In my opinion the Buick is much nicer.
I’d take the Sonic hatch. It looks like a fun little car, it’s the best looking non-Mini subcompact, and it’s the only subcompact that is made in the USA.
The Spark is also made in the US.
No, the spark is built in South Korea. The Sonic, and Bolt are the smallest cars that GM builds in the USA. Lake Orion, Michigan.
Great for GM. Working hard to make Korea and China Great Again!
Where are those Trxas being exported to?
And how do the exports of Mokka/Encore compare to the Trax?
How many cars has GM from the U.S. exported to S. Korea , is it even close to the 79,016 cars coming to our shores ? I doubt it .
I know it’s a global world now and any profit is good for GM , but not so good for the neighborhoods that have suffered when GM has pulled out of their cities .
Our trade deficits are bigger than most small countries yearly budgets .
We can thank our corrupt do nothing Congress for that .
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought we got the Encore from Korea, and the Trax from Mexico. If that’s correct, all the Korean export Trax are going elsewhere.
As Donald Trump would ask.. given that the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax are highly successful, why aren’t the vehicles built in the United States as building the small CUV in the United States could stimulate the US Economy further.
I agree – and if they’re the same chassis as the Sonic, it should be relatively easy to swap them out, and ship the lower selling Sonic from Korea!
Donald Trump would ask…
… you to believe he’s not Putin’s puppet.
That CNN headline has been beaten into a fine powder.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
What about this old phrase:
“What is good for General Motors, is good for the United States”