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GM Canada Confirms Chevy Sonic Discontinuation

Last week, GM Authority exclusively reported on rumors that the Chevy Sonic had been discontinued in Canada. Now, GM officials have confirmed as much: the subcompact sedan and hatch will be discotniued in the Canadian market following the 2018 model year.

“The change will allow Chevrolet to focus our car strategy in areas where there is more customer interest, specifically the Spark in the Small Car segment where we see volume and market share opportunities moving forward,” wrote Ester Bucci, Senior Communications Manager at GM Canada, in a statement to GM Authority.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan Exterior 002

Ms. Bucci also added that “Chevrolet is extremely confident that with one of the broadest line-ups of cars in the industry, we are well positioned to provide Canadian car buyers with a portfolio of options as diverse as they are.”

Sales Results - Canada - Sonic

YearJanFebMar AprMayJunJul AugSepOctNov DecTotal
20194 44 00 01 11 00 015
2018332 290359 442659 309179 13569 3712 192,842
2017364 146388 558743 513314 203280 336331 3154,491
2016206 210436 694912 384201 220276 137345 3834,404
2015205 346528 948721 577462 336485 430424 3015,763
2014345 423808 1,2021,021 872625 495554 566470 6558,036
*** This manufacturer is now publishing only quarterly numbers for this market. Monthly figures may be averages.

Canadian Sonic sales have dwindled in recent years. The subcompact range accounted for under 3,000 deliveries during all of 2018, a significant decrease compared to the 8,036 deliveries in 2014. Sales have all but dwindled to 37 units in October 2018 and 12 units in November 2018.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback exterior - 2016 New York International Auto Show Live 005

About Chevrolet Sonic

The Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact family of vehicles that include a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Having replaced the Aveo in the Chevrolet lineup, the Sonic is currently Chevrolet's second-smallest car, slotting above the Chevrolet Spark city car but below the compact Chevrolet Cruze, midsize Chevrolet Malibu and full-size Chevrolet Impala.

The current model was introduced for the 2012 model year and represents the first generation of the Sonic nameplate. The model rides on the GM Gamma platform shared with the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback exterior - 2016 New York International Auto Show Live 011

The Sonic was given a midcycle refresh for the 2017 model year. The 2018 Chevy Sonic represents the sixth model year of the first-generation Sonic. The vehicle remains fairly competitive in its segment and the 2018 model year brings a handful of changes, including a new exterior color, a change to the Sun and Sound Package, and the standardization of the seven-inch diagonal color touchscreen.

For the 2019 model year, the Sonic gained one new exterior color (while losing two other colors), the removal of the base 1.8L naturally-aspirated Ecotec engine, and several other minor equipment-level changes.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback RS interior - 2016 New York International Auto Show Live 003

The Sonic is assembled at the following plants:

  • GM Lake Orion plant in Orion Township, Michigan, USA operated by GM USA supplying United States and Canada
  • GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea operated by GM Korea supplying Korea (previously supplied Holden Barina for Australia and New Zealand)
  • GM Cairo plant in Egypt operated by GM Egypt (plant idled)
  • GM Hanoi plant in Vietnam operated by GM Vietnam (plant sold and no longer producing GM models)

A March 2017 rumor stated that GM would discontinue the Sonic as soon as 2018. As of this writing, it's unclear whether or not the nameplate will see a second generation. In November 2018, General Motors announced that it will discontinue the Chevrolet Cruze, along with five other passengers cars. Though the Sonic was not on that list, the model was discontinued in Canada. The move leaves the United States and South Korea as the only two markets where the model is currently available.

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Comments

  1. The article says that the Sonic/Aveo is built in four plants (US, Korea, Egypt, Vietnam) but that it is only available now in two markets (US and S. Korea). So what about the cars from the other two plants?

    Reply
    1. Egypt and Vietnam are no longer producing this model. In fact, neither is producing GM vehicles.

      Reply
  2. I’d like to think that the Chevy Sonic will not be discontinued in the US. Chevy definitely has plans for the Sonic, I’m sure. If you think about it, the Sonic shares the same platform as the Bolt. It would make sense, to share more components between the two, (only if GM stops relying on LG Chem entirely for the Powertrain and Battery) and makes the Chevy Sonic either a Hybrid, or a BEV. The Sonic has admirable styling on the front end. Chevy needs to add more character to the sides, and back end. Lower the suspension, improve the handling just a bit. Add more customization options at build time. Make safety features STANDARD. If GM’s goal is a Triple 0, then STANDARD safety features should be a no-brainer.

    If Chevy decides to not even take those options, then they should discontinue the engines it currently comes with, and add either the 1.5L from the Malibu, or the 2.0T. Maybe give it the 9spd, so passing is easier instead of wasting fuel like the 6spd does. Oh, and more wind and road noise insulation.

    Reply

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