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Chevrolet Traverse Sales Increase 18.6 Percent To 12,313 Units In December 2017

Chevrolet Traverse sales increased in the United States and in Canada in December 2017.

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - December 2017 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 12,313 units in December 2017, an increase of about 19 percent compared to 10,381 units sold in December 2016. The results represent the model's best-ever cumulative December sales performance.

During the complete 2017 calendar year, Traverse sales increased about 6 percent to 123,506 units.
MODEL DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 DECEMBER 2017 DECEMBER 2016YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2016
TRAVERSE +18.61% 12,313 10,381 +5.83% 123,506 116,701

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - December 2017 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 453 units in December 2017, an increase of about 83 percent compared to 248 units sold in December 2016. The results represent the model's best cumulative December sales performance since at least December 2014.

During the complete 2017 calendar year, Traverse sales increased about 5 percent to 4,710 units.
MODEL DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 DECEMBER 2017 DECEMBER 2016YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2016
TRAVERSE +82.66% 453 248 +4.99% 4,710 4,486

The GM Authority Take

Chevy Traverse sales performance slightly outpaced the segment in December, putting it in fourth place in its segment, behind the Ford Explorer (see Ford Explorer sales), Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. To note, the Explorer and Highlander nearly outsold the Traverse two-fold during the month.

Though the figures show the Hyundai Santa Fe outselling the Traverse in December, it is vital to note that the Santa Fe’s sales figures are somewhat misleading given that the “regular” Santa Fe three-row full-size model (which competes directly with the Traverse) and the Santa Fe Sport two-row midsize model are included in the total Santa Fe line item.

The Traverse cleanly outsold the Volkswagen Atlas (see VW Atlas sales), Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge Durango (see Dodge Durango sales) and Mazda CX-9.

As in SeptemberOctober and November, we attribute the Traverse’s encouraging December sales performance to the following three factors:

  1. An all-new, competitive model that represents an attractive overall package
  2. Decent incentives to move existing inventory units, especially first-generation units
  3. A continuous change in consumers’ vehicle buying dynamics as car buyers continue to switching to crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from other vehicle types like sedans

Going forward, we expect Traverse sales to continue steady or to increase, depending on the current model’s performance in the marketplace, sales operation at the retail level, as well as the competitive landscape, which is highly crowded and will become even more so with the introduction of new entrants, such as the Subaru Ascent three-row crossover.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Full-Size Crossovers - December 2017 - United States

MODEL DEC 17 / DEC 16 DECEMBER 17 DECEMBER 16 YTD 17 / YTD 16 YTD 17 YTD 16
EXPLORER +33.34% 25,375 19,030 +10.06% 238,056 216,294
HIGHLANDER -17.24% 21,041 25,425 +12.75% 215,775 191,379
PILOT +54.09% 18,602 12,072 +5.39% 127,279 120,772
TRAVERSE +18.61% 12,313 10,381 +5.83% 123,506 116,701
SANTA FE +21.03% 13,146 10,862 +1.45% 133,171 131,265
PATHFINDER -35.39% 6,053 9,368 -0.78% 81,065 81,701
DURANGO -4.30% 5,547 5,796 +0.42% 68,761 68,474
ATLAS * 6,070 * * 27,119 *
CX-9 +26.29% 3,276 2,594 +60.91% 25,828 16,051
TOTAL +16.64% 111,423 95,528 +10.39% 1,040,560 942,637

The mainstream full-size crossover segment grew 17 percent in December and 10 percent during the complete 2017 calendar year.


For informational and comparative purposes, we are also providing sales figures for various models that overlap with the Traverse’s segment:

  • GMC Acadia (see GMC Acadia sales), Kia Sorento, and Mitsubishi Outlander – which are midsize crossovers with three rows
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (see Jeep Grand Cherokee sales), which has two rows of seating but is sold at a similar price point to the Traverse and therefore overlaps the full-size crossover segment
  • Ford Police Interceptor Utility (see Police Interceptor Utility sales), which is the police duty variant of the Ford Explorer and whose sales are not included in the Explorer line item

Sales Numbers - Overlapping Crossover Sales - December 2017 - United States

MODEL DEC 17 / DEC 16 DECEMBER 17 DECEMBER 16 YTD 17 / YTD 16 YTD 17 YTD 16
ACADIA -11.09% 10,837 12,189 +26.29% 111,726 88,466
SORENTO -34.31% 7,740 11,782 -13.12% 99,684 114,733
OUTLANDER +22.43% 3,018 2,465 +32.86% 35,310 26,576
GRAND CHEROKEE +1.60% 23,622 23,250 +13.39% 240,696 212,273
POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY +12.88% 3,191 2,827 +2.68% 33,075 32,213

About Chevrolet Traverse

2018 Chevrolet Traverse Redline Edition exterior - 2017 Chicago Auto Show 003

The Chevrolet Traverse is a full-size crossover utility vehicle (CUV). It is the biggest Chevrolet crossover currently offered, slotting above the subcompact Chevrolet Trax and compact Chevrolet Equinox. It will also slot above the much-rumored, future Chevrolet Blazer.

The current model was introduced for the 2018 model year and represents the second generation of the Traverse nameplate. It rides on the extended-length GM C1 platform shared with the second-generation Buick Enclave. A shorter variant of the same platform underpins the second-gen GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5.

Compared to its first-generation predecessor, the second-gen Traverse is an all-new vehicle that is larger, lighter, sleeker and more modern. It also introduces new trim levels, including High Country and RS – neither of which were present on the first-generation model.

The Chevrolet Traverse is built at the GM Delta Lansing Township factory in Michigan operated by GM USA. It is currently the only plant that builds the vehicle alongside the second-gen Buick Enclave.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Traverse December 2016 sales
  • In the United States, there were 26 selling days in December 2017 and 27 selling days in December 2016
  • In Canada, there were 25 selling days in December 2017 and 27 selling days in December 2016
  • Hyundai Santa Fe figures include “regular” Santa Fe three-row model and Santa Fe Sport two-row variant, as the automaker does not break out the figures for the two models individually

Related Sales Reporting

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Great. Hope this sales improve.

    Reply
  2. Great looking vehicle

    Reply
  3. I would love to see it eclipse at least the Explorer.

    Reply

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