mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Chevy Malibu Sales Decrease 14.5 Percent To 42,267 Units In Q2 2018

Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased in the United States and in South Korea, while increasing in Canada during the second quarter of 2018.

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q2 2018 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 42,267 units in Q2 2018, a decrease of about 14 percent compared to 48,894 units sold in Q2 2017.

In the first six months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 9 percent to 76,417 units.
MODEL Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 Q2 2018 Q2 2017YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2017
MALIBU -13.55% 42,267 48,894 -8.92% 76,417 83,899

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q2 2018 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 2,642 units in Q2 2018, an increase of about 11 percent compared to 2,386 units sold in Q2 2017.

In the first six months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 0 percent to 4,283 units.
MODEL Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 Q2 2018 Q2 2017YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2017
MALIBU +10.73% 2,642 2,386 +0.26% 4,283 4,272

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q2 2018 - South Korea

In South Korea, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 2,665 units in Q2 2018, a decrease of about 62 percent compared to 6,965 units sold in Q2 2017. The

In the first six months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 68 percent to 6,211 units.
MODEL Q2 2018 / Q2 2017 Q2 2018 Q2 2017YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2017
MALIBU -61.74% 2,665 6,965 -68.47% 6,211 19,698

2018 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior 002

The GM Authority Take

Malibu sales continued their rather downward streak in the second quarter, but didn’t fall as much as much as the segment on average. The performance keeps the midsize sedan in fifth place in its segment.

The Toyota Camry continued to wear the sales crown as the segment’s best-seller. The Honda Accord came in second, followed by the Nissan Altima in third and the Ford Fusion (see Ford Fusion sales) in fourth. The Malibu outsold other segment contenders, including the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat (see VW Passat sales), Subaru Legacy, Mazda6 (see Mazda6 sales), and the discontinued Chrysler 200 (see Chrysler 200 sales).

We attribute the Malibu’s ongoing sales slump to the following factors:

  1. An ongoing shift in consumer buying dynamics that favors crossover utility vehicles at the expense of other vehicle types like sedans and hatchbacks, as evidenced by the 15 percent drop of the entire segment during the second quarter
  2. A strong market reaction to the new Toyota Camry, which doesn’t appear to be deterred by the market shift
  3. Core product issues for the Chevrolet Malibu that make the vehicle less competitive and therefore less attractive in the marketplace, including a very weak base engine, not offering several key features such as HID or LED headlamps, not having an all-wheel-drive or a performance variant, and an unfriendly trim level structure that requires customers to upgrade to a top-most trim level in order to get various desired features that are either standard or can be optioned a-la-carte on competing models. Additionally, the Malibu is the only model in its segment that can’t be equipped with a roof rack without drilling into the car, a factor that likely pushes consumers who value the feature to crossovers.

Luckily, a refreshed 2019 Malibu is on the way that aims to address many of these drawbacks and make the model more competitive in its segment.

Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Sedans - Q2 2018 - United States

MODEL Q2 18 / Q2 17 Q2 18 Q2 17 YTD 18 / YTD 17 YTD 18 YTD 17
CAMRY -5.79% 88,028 93,438 +1.07% 178,795 176,897
ACCORD -15.05% 76,689 90,276 -13.62% 138,290 160,091
ALTIMA -16.48% 60,386 72,299 -15.38% 123,792 146,284
FUSION -22.39% 43,802 56,439 -18.88% 86,978 107,225
MALIBU -13.55% 42,267 48,894 -8.92% 76,417 83,899
SONATA -20.90% 30,410 38,446 -28.93% 54,235 76,315
OPTIMA -16.80% 27,266 32,772 -21.50% 46,876 59,717
PASSAT -25.35% 12,594 16,870 -36.37% 22,356 35,137
LEGACY -15.10% 10,919 12,861 -16.23% 21,415 25,564
MAZDA6 +44.18% 10,550 7,317 +0.41% 18,082 18,009
200 -96.69% 235 7,102 -93.48% 894 13,722
TOTAL -15.43% 403,146 476,714 -14.92% 768,130 902,860

The midsize mainstream sedan segment contracted 15 percent in the second quarter of 2018 and 15 percent in the first six months of 2018.

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

About Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size sedan sold in most markets where Chevrolet has a business presence. It is currently Chevrolet’s second-largest sedan, in the U.S. and Canada, slotting above the subcompact Chevrolet Sonic and compact Chevrolet Cruze but under the full-size Chevrolet Impala.

The current, ninth-generation model was introduced in 2016. It rides on the GM E2 platform shared with the Buick Regal, Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Holden Commodore NG, and the Cadillac XT4.

2019 Chevrolet Malibu RS exterior 001 front three quarters (1)

For 2019 – the fourth model year of the ninth-gen model – the Malibu received a midcycle enhancement, otherwise known as a facelift or refresh, that consists of revised exterior styling, a new Malibu RS trim level, a CVT transmission for L, LS, LT and RS models, a new infotainment system, and a new 8-inch reconfigurable driver information center (DIC), among a few other new features.

The Chevrolet Malibu is produced across the following GM plants:

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Malibu Q2 2017 sales
  • In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q2 2018 and 77 selling days in Q2 2017
  • In Canada, there were 77 selling days in Q2 2018 and 76 selling days in Q2 2017
  • South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
  • China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales

Related News & Info

[nggallery id=716]

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

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. I honestly do not see the 2019 model addressing 90% of the issues the current car has. The weak base engine remains. The convoluted model and option structure appear very similar. The 2.0T is still relegated to the top most expensive trim level. Only the front and rear have changed and to some the front is really not much help. The interior remains mostly the same. And the CVT might actually hurt sales.

    Reply
    1. Yep, that pricing structure needs to be revised. In its first year of release, one could have gotten a 2LT Malibu with the 2.0L turbo. Also the interior colors are limited to various shades of black and gray with no option to select cloth patterns. We know its a Chevy sedan, GM, but come on.

      Reply
  2. Something very wrong indeed with GM planning if they won’t/can’t exceed or at least match the competition..

    Reply
  3. Malibu is a nice car. The turbo version has a really good get up and go. The Malibu has plenty of room and trunk space. With Ford discontinuing the Fusion, I see the Malibu picking up sales.

    Reply
  4. when GM starts giving customers what they want sales will increase . lets start with the proper base engine — standard equip safety items that are standard on other competitive models , interior colors that are not drab looking .

    Reply
    1. They have given them what they want it is called Equilnox.

      I do not say that in jest as the 250k units the have sold of the Nox mostly came from other Chevy products.

      While the cars are dropping the CUV models are increasing.

      Reply
  5. It looks like a catfish

    Reply
  6. I agree with the comments about the interior color options….BLACK only! I have my 3rd lease, a 2018 Malibu LT and tried to get a lighter interior–either gray or beige–but it was NOT possible. Also, it was an unpleasant surprise when I found that there wasn’t a CD player. I had to have a cell phone to use the On Star phone with the same programming as my prior leased Malibu (2012 and 2015). The BlueTooth set-up was cumbersome and when I make calls, the automated response will do just about anything but what I tell it to! The calls are also “muddy” and hard to understand. Why change something that works well? The keyless entry has been in the news as a car thief’s dream, they have found a way to hack the system and enter cars without the remote. There are not very many choices for colors interior or exterior.

    Reply
  7. In response to one commentator, I agree that GM has issues. The biggest one is that some dealers still show an uncaring attitude towards customers. GM cars today are built well. Get good safety ratings. Have good styling. They also have OnStar. No other car company comes close to OnStar. OnStar even gets GM customers an insurance discount.

    Reply
  8. New GM facelift strategy – when you lost your invention use a lot of chrome and do not care about interior or engine changes. It is way to hell and we do not need spent a lot of money for changes. We are mighty GM and some stupid costumer buy it. We do not care about costumer wishes, we care about our money.

    Reply
    1. What English!!! It is A way to Hell and not SPENT should be SPEND. More errors in next sentence too…please!

      Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel