GM Korea sales decreased 30 percent to 5,303 units in September 2019 compared to September 2018 results. Sales fell at both of GM’s brands offered in South Korea – Chevrolet and Cadillac.
Chevrolet sales decreased 30 percent 5,171 units:
- Chevrolet Bolt EV sales increased 155.71 percent to 179 units
- Chevrolet Camaro sales decreased 47.37 percent to 10 units
- Chevrolet Damas sales increased 24.09 percent to 273 units
- The Damas is a small van originally introduced by Daewoo, which GM subsequently bought in the late 1990s
- Chevrolet Equinox sales decreased 20.54 percent to 147 units
- Chevrolet Impala sales decreased 18.18 percent to 63 units
- Chevrolet Labo sales increased 0.39 percent to 255 units
- The Labo is a line of small vans and pickups introduced by Daewoo, which GM subsequently bought in the late 1990s
- Chevrolet Malibu sales decreased 73.71 percent to 602 units
- Chevrolet Spark sales decreased 13.14 percent to 2,743 units
- Chevrolet Trax sales decreased 16.49 percent to 871 units
- The Chevrolet Aveo, Cruze, Orlando, Captiva and Volt were discontinued in South Korea
Cadillac sales decreased 30 percent to 132 units:
- Cadillac ATS sales decreased 90.91 percent to 2 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales decreased 68.75 percent to 30 units
- Cadillac CTS sales decreased 5 percent to 19 units
- Cadillac Escalade sales increased 120 percent to 33 units
- Cadillac XT4 sales have not yet commenced in Korea
- Cadillac XT5 sales increased 33.33 percent to 48 units
- The Cadillac XTS and Escalade ESV are not offered in South Korea
In the first nine months of 2019, GM Korea sales decreased 18 percent to 55,271 units.
Sales Results - September 2019 - South Korea - Chevrolet
MODEL | SEP 2019 / SEP 2018 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | SEPTEMBER 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOLT EV | +155.71% | 179 | 70 | -49.67% | 2,363 | 4,695 |
CAMARO | -47.37% | 10 | 19 | -8.78% | 135 | 148 |
DAMAS | +24.09% | 273 | 220 | -7.64% | 2,588 | 2,802 |
EQUINOX | -20.54% | 147 | 185 | +92.19% | 1,649 | 858 |
IMPALA | -18.18% | 63 | 77 | -61.01% | 441 | 1,131 |
LABO | +0.39% | 255 | 254 | -10.76% | 2,580 | 2,891 |
MALIBU | -73.71% | 602 | 2,290 | -18.61% | 9,476 | 11,643 |
SPARK | -13.14% | 2,743 | 3,158 | -5.49% | 25,441 | 26,920 |
TRAX | -16.49% | 871 | 1,043 | +16.42% | 9,146 | 7,856 |
CHEVROLET TOTAL | -30.43% | 5,171 | 7,433 | -18.67% | 53,934 | 66,311 |
Sales Results - September 2019 - South Korea - Cadillac
MODEL | SEP 2019 / SEP 2018 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | SEPTEMBER 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATS | -90.91% | 2 | 22 | -46.34% | 66 | 123 |
CT6 | -68.75% | 30 | 96 | -29.66% | 408 | 580 |
CTS | -5.00% | 19 | 20 | +25.95% | 165 | 131 |
ESCALADE | +120.00% | 33 | 15 | +43.26% | 255 | 178 |
XT5 | +33.33% | 48 | 36 | +8.58% | 443 | 408 |
CADILLAC TOTAL | -30.16% | 132 | 189 | -5.85% | 1,337 | 1,420 |
Sales Results - September 2019 - South Korea - GM Totals
BRAND | SEP 2019 / SEP 2018 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | SEPTEMBER 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET TOTAL | -30.43% | 5,171 | 7,433 | -18.67% | 53,934 | 66,311 |
CADILLAC TOTAL | -30.16% | 132 | 189 | -5.85% | 1,337 | 1,420 |
GM SOUTH KOREA TOTAL | -30.43% | 5,303 | 7,622 | -18.40% | 55,271 | 67,731 |
The GM Authority Take
The significant decline in GM Korea sales during September 2019 further deepens the division’s negative sales trend and marks the fifth consecutive month of double-digit declines. Both Chevrolet and Cadillac sold fewer units in September in South Korea, with both brands seeing a 30 percent decline compared to September 2018.
The negative performance in September is primarily a result of low supply of locally-produced models, along with a portfolio that is not as fresh as that of the competition.
Nine of fourteen GM models offered in the South Korean market suffered declines in sales volume. Among them is the Chevrolet Spark – The General’s best-selling vehicle in the Asian country. Meanwhile, five models managed to increase sales volume on a year-over-year basis. Chief among these were the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Cadillac Escalade, both of which recorded the most noteworthy jumps in sales volume in the triple digits.
GM recently launched the Chevrolet Colorado and Chevrolet Traverse in South Korea. The effort is meant to quickly attract attention from consumers and to improve the image of the Chevrolet brand in the country. However, since both the Chevrolet Traverse and Colorado are imported from the United States, neither is likely to reverse GM’s slumping performance in the near future in the South Korean market, especially given the ongoing GM UAW strike that has resulted in production of both models being stopped.
Even when the strike gets resolved and production of the Colorado and Traverse resumes, we don’t expect either of the two models to become substantial sellers given that very few, if any, vehicles imported into South Korea end up selling in huge volumes. That role is usually relegated to locally-produced vehicles.
Luckily, GM has one more trick up its sleeve – the all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer. The subcompact-plus crossover will begin to be manufactured by the end of 2019 at the GM Bupyeong plant and will be sold in South Korea as well as in North America.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM Korea sales in September 2018, except if noted
Further Reading & Sales Reporting
- GM news
- Running GM sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
- Running Cadillac sales results
- GM Q3 2019 sales numbers:
- GM Q3 2019 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q3 2019 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q3 2019 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q3 2019 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q3 2019 U.S.A.
- GM Canada sales Q3 2019
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q3 2019
- Cadillac Canada sales Q3 2019
- Buick Canada sales Q3 2019
- GMC Canada sales Q3 2019
- GM Mexico sales Q3 2019
- GM China sales Q3 2019
- Chevrolet China Q3 3019 sales
- Buick China Q3 2019 sales
- Cadillac China Q3 2019 sales
- GM Brazil sales Q3 2019
- GM South Korea sales Q3 2019
- GM Q3 2019 sales U.S.A.
No Comments yet