Buick Cascada Sales - Q4 2018 - United States
In the United States, Buick Cascada deliveries totaled 743 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 31 percent compared to 1,070 units sold in Q4 2017.During the complete 2018 calendar year, Cascada sales decreased about 26 percent to 4,136 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADA | -30.56% | 743 | 1,070 | -26.08% | 4,136 | 5,595 |
The Buick Cascada is sold exclusively in the United States of America, and is not sold in any other North American market such as Canada or Mexico.
Competitive Sales Comparison
The sales performance puts the Cascada in second place among its most direct rivals, behind the Mazda MX-5 Miata (see Mazda Miata sales) but ahead of the Miata-based Fiat 124 Spider. Sales results for the Audi A3 Convertible, which is a direct rival to the Cascada, are not available since the German automaker does not break out A3 sales by body type.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Convertibles - Q4 2018 - USA
| MODEL | Q4 18 / Q4 17 | Q4 18 | Q4 17 | YTD 18 / YTD 17 | YTD 18 | YTD 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 MIATA | -4.19% | 1,511 | 1,577 | -20.57% | 8,971 | 11,294 |
| CASCADA | -30.56% | 743 | 1,070 | -26.08% | 4,136 | 5,595 |
| 124 SPIDER | -25.28% | 600 | 803 | -21.51% | 3,515 | 4,478 |
| TOTAL | -17.28% | 2,854 | 3,450 | -22.21% | 16,622 | 21,367 |
Notably, Cascada sales fell the most in the segment, faster than the 4 percent and 25 percent drop experienced by the Miata and 124 Spider, respectively.
The mainstream dedicated convertible vehicle segment contracted 17 percent in Q4 2018 and 22 percent during the complete 2018 calendar year.
The GM Authority Take
Despite a 3 percent uptick in third quarter volumes, Buick Cascada sales declined in the fourth quarter of the year, resulting in a 26 percent decrease in cumulative sales during the complete 2018 calendar year. We attribute the ongoing decline in Cascada sales to the following potential circumstances:
- The saturation of the market for non-luxury convertibles, a segment that includes the redesigned Mazda MX-5 Miata, Fiat 124 Spider and Audi A3 Convertible
- The ongoing shift in consumer purchase patterns that favors CUVs and SUVs over other vehicle types like sedans, coupes and convertibles (though some analysts have noted that this segment has traditionally been resistant to such changes)
Nevertheless, the addition of the Cascada to the Buick lineup was meant to fill “white space” to change the brand’s perception while also attracting new-to-brand customers. Figures released by Buick in 2017 state that the Cascada has been successful in doing exactly that, with nearly 70 percent of Cascada customers being new to GM. In addition, it is believed that any U.S. sales of the Cascada were highly profitable for GM, since the model was developed as an Opel/Vauxhall for various global markets from the onset, and exporting Buick-ified units from the Gliwice plant in Poland was a relatively simple and low-cost undertaking.
We expect Cascada sales to continue decreasing in the coming quarters as long as the crossover craze persists, Buick doesn’t offer significantly attractive incentives on the Cascada, or significantly update the model. The latter option seems the least likely, as the Cascada seems close to being discontinued.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Buick Cascada Q4 2017 sales, except as noted
- In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q4 2018 and 76 selling days in Q4 2017
The Buick Cascada is a compact convertible. The current, first-generation Cascada was introduced for the 2016 model year. Essentially a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Cascada, the vehicle is based on a variant of the GM Delta II platform shared with the Opel Astra and first-generation Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Volt and Opel Astra J. For the 2018 model year, the Cascada received three new exterior colors, two new convertible top colors and expanded availability of the Dark Effects Package. For the 2019 model year, The Cascada gets two changes: the removal of the Carrageen Metallic exterior color and newfound ability to get the Sport Red exterior color without getting the Dark Effects Package. In addition, the Light Neutral seats with Jet Black accents become newly available with the Sport Red exterior color. For the 2019 model year, the Cascada lost the Carrageen Metallic exterior color and made the Sport Red exterior color available without the Dark Effects Package or the Light Neutral seats with Jet Black accents interior color combination. The Buick Cascada is built exclusively at the GM-Opel Gliwice, Poland factory initially owned by GM/Opel Europe but now operated by PSA Groupe as a result of GM selling Opel and Vauxhall in 2017. In February 2019, GM confirmed that the Buick Cascada will be discontinued after the 2019 model year.
About Buick Cascada
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Comments
Source code typo at end of article, spare/lonely [/column].
I just don’t understand why Americans won’t buy a smaller version of the discontinued Chrysler Sebring convertible made it Poland. Buick’s best vehicles come from Poland, Korea, and China. Screw Flint, Michigan.
Buick doesn’t make any vehicles in Flint.
That was the commenter’s point.
Buick’s Cascada is embarrassing as the car is a stinker that isn’t any fun to drive.
Broken record time….. Camaro convertible based Cascada replacement w 2.7t-5.3 v8 power, thanks……..