Chevrolet Sonic sales decreased in the United States, Canada and Mexico in the third quarter of 2019.
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q3 2019 - United States
In the United States, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 2,148 units in Q3 2019, a decrease of about 71 percent compared to 7,283 units sold in Q3 2018.In the first nine months of the year, Sonic sales decreased about 40 percent to 10,632 units.
| MODEL | Q3 2019 / Q3 2018 | Q3 2019 | Q3 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | -70.51% | 2,148 | 7,283 | -40.43% | 10,632 | 17,848 |
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q3 2019 - Canada
In Canada, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 2 units in Q3 2019, a decrease of about 99 percent compared to 383 units sold in Q3 2018.In the first nine months of the year, Sonic sales decreased about 99 percent to 15 units.
| MODEL | Q3 2019 / Q3 2018 | Q3 2019 | Q3 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | -99.48% | 2 | 383 | -99.46% | 15 | 2,774 |
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q3 2019 - Mexico
In Mexico, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 0 units in Q3 2019, a decrease of about 100 percent compared to 37 units sold in Q3 2018.In the first nine months of the year, Sonic sales decreased about 99 percent to 9 units.
| MODEL | Q3 2019 / Q3 2018 | Q3 2019 | Q3 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | -100.00% | 0 | 37 | -98.93% | 9 | 842 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
Chevrolet Sonic sales continued to slide during the third quarter of 2019, as they did throughout all of 2018 and during the first two quarters of 2018. The third-quarter performance places the subcompact model dead last in its competitive set in terms of overall sales volume. To compare, nearly seven times as many units of the discontinued Ford Fiesta (see Ford Fiesta sales) and roughly five times as many units of the Honda Fit were sold during the same timeframe, putting the former in first place and the latter in second place. The Fit was followed by the Nissan Versa, Mitsubishi Mirage, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Sonic.
As the sales charts note, Sonic sales significantly underperformed the segment average during the quarter, posting the biggest decline during the timeframe. The results give the Sonic a measly four-percent segment share, while the segment-leading Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, and Nissan Versa accounted for 25, 17 and 15 percent, respectively.
Sales Numbers - Subcompact Mainstream Cars - Q3 2019 - United States
| MODEL | Q3 19 / Q3 18 | Q3 19 | Q3 18 | Q3 19 SHARE | Q3 18 SHARE | YTD 19 / YTD 18 | YTD 19 | YTD 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD FIESTA | +31.88% | 14,717 | 11,159 | 25% | 17% | +44.68% | 52,833 | 36,518 |
| HONDA FIT | +28.49% | 10,112 | 7,870 | 17% | 12% | -17.20% | 27,268 | 32,934 |
| NISSAN VERSA | -31.99% | 8,433 | 12,399 | 15% | 19% | -1.64% | 57,133 | 58,083 |
| MITSUBISHI MIRAGE | +34.99% | 8,276 | 6,131 | 14% | 10% | +9.63% | 21,177 | 19,316 |
| KIA RIO | +8.36% | 6,740 | 6,220 | 12% | 10% | +10.96% | 19,186 | 17,291 |
| HYUNDAI ACCENT | -26.96% | 5,109 | 6,995 | 9% | 11% | -8.27% | 20,015 | 21,820 |
| TOYOTA YARIS | -60.71% | 2,534 | 6,450 | 4% | 10% | -16.80% | 19,191 | 23,066 |
| CHEVROLET SONIC | -70.51% | 2,148 | 7,283 | 4% | 11% | -40.43% | 10,632 | 17,848 |
| TOTAL | -9.98% | 58,069 | 64,507 | +0.25% | 227,435 | 226,876 |
The mainstream subcompact car segment contracted nearly 10 percent to 58,069 units in Q3 2019.
The GM Authority Take
We attribute the dreadful performance in Chevrolet Sonic sales during the third quarter and during the first nine months of 2019 to GM/Chevy having given up on the subcompact passenger car. The Sonic is now one of the two oldest and, by association, least competitive products in its segment – especially compared to new rivals from Nissan, Kia and Hyundai, all of which are making a concerted effort to market and sell their subcompact car offerings despite a contracting segment.
Exacerbating the ghastly state of affairs for the Sonic are the following factors:
- Very little Sonic inventory at the retail level
- Non-existent marketing support by GM/Chevrolet for what is still a rather new nameplate in the segment; typically, a new nameplate needs significant amounts of marketing support to create buyer awareness, consideration and purchase.
- Lack of focus on the part of GM’s corporate sales operations to move units of the current model.
- GM’s ongoing strategy to decrease sales to daily rental fleets, which was a very healthy channel for Chevrolet Sonic sales.
- A contracting subcompact passenger car segment as a result of an ongoing market shift that favors crossovers (CUV/SUV) at the expense of passenger cars.
We don’t foresee Chevrolet Sonic sales changing direction anytime soon, unless GM refocuses its attention on the space and introduces an all-new product. Notably, the Sonic launched to much fanfare and consumer interest as a highly-competitive model with a significant amount of ambition, excitement, and potential. Over the course of the current model’s lifecycle, all of those factors dwindled.
In addition, the product itself lost its competitive edge and many distinguishing characteristics as part of the 2017 facelift. Prior to the update, the Sonic enjoyed a unique and youthful position in its segment thanks to a one-of-a-kind persona afforded by a unique exterior design, with distinct headlamps, gauge cluster, and other features.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Sonic sales in Q3 2018
- In the United States, there were 76 selling days in Q3 2019 and 76 selling days in Q3 2018
- South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
- 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
Comments
I love my Sonic. The only problem I have found is on the RS the special spikes at the bottom front of the bumper will scrape the ground when my car dips at all. I live in Savannah where the roads are literally hundreds of years old, there are MANY dips and I think those bits need to be reconsidered. Definitely a design flaw they didn’t take into account.
I have a 2014 and I bought it new off the floor. I’ve had nothing but problems since the day my warranty expired. I told Currie Motors in Forest Park, IL about my issues and they said it was nothing. Fast forward to winter 2017, cracked water pump only thing covered by warranty. I had to replace the radiator 1600.00 and the housing thermal unit keeps melting. This is my second replacement for the housing unit. My car is burning antifreeze and they keep trying to charge me to look at my car!!!! The entire radio panel doesn’t work anymore unless you use the button in the steering wheel. I can’t attach anything Bluetooth.
My car is almost paid for and I’m now at a loss.
I’m not the only person having these same issues.
2 turbos 3 vavle covers
3 water pumps 2 water inlets and 100ks so far no bad car if you can replace the parts yourself but if the dealership is doing it and you dont have the warranty your ficked, lease it dont own it good a to b even took it too Canada and Mexico.
That sounds like a pretty crappy car to me, given all those problems. Are you saying all that within a 100,000 km or miles? Either way it sounds like a lot of issues.
I drove my old Aveo to 190k miles with less problems than that before I junked it.
I had the 2013 with turbo. If they sold it with a non turbo 2.0 I would have bought another one. Only reason people buy the Fiesta is the low price.
We have a 2012 Turbo with 48k on it. Turbo went out at 44k, just did the valve cover PCV valve . Also the AC compressor clutch fried around 30k. Performance and ride is great, mpg is decent, but all this sh!$t breaking before 50k is not acceptable for any new car. Should have spent a little more and drove home a Honda, Toyota or even a Ford.
PS, our 2013 Traverse has had multiple issues as well by 40k. It’s gone and replaced by a Volvo. As much as we try to buy American products, there’s no US made autos in our future, ever.
Hard to have Sonic sold units for Canada’s when the press releases say GM has discontinue this model and dealers have no stock it’s like shooting your self in the foot ,even worse the good selling Chevy Cruze price wise for Canadians is gone too with no current viable alternative ,especially when .Canadian buy mostly small to medium sized vehicles .The only vehicles as alternatives are Japanese and Korean sedans still selling well ,not good merchandizing to me !
I bought my 2012 Sonic LTZ Hatchback 1.4L Turbo w/6speed manual new in December 2011. I’ve loved it ever since (remember those crazy Sonic commercials back then?). It now has over 76,000 miles and still going strong.
The only reason why I believe GM/Chevrolet is still keeping the car around is I think they’ll go 100% electric with the Sonic (or whatever they’ll call it). Then all the cars coming out of Orion would be electric. Maybe as early as 2021 or 2022?
Needs a big refresh & the new LE2 engine from the Gen2 Cruze…Knowing GM they’ll kill it an give the compact market to foreign brands ! (Not everyone wants a SUV)
Its because people are realizing that the sonic is a throw away car. Within weeks of my 75000mi warranty ive had to replace water pump, timing belt and pulley assemblies, 2 valve covers with gasket, cooling fans, 2 thermostats, o2 sensors, maf sensors, all the air intake hoses…. I’ve officially now put more into the car than its resale value and still owe $5000 on the loan. I’m only at 108000 miles now and problems keep popping up even though i take impeccable care of my engine.
Goodness did you have the 1.4turbo one ? I had the 2013 with the 1.8 had no issues in the 65,000 miles I put on it.
I think the real problem is that it’s going on 8 years old without any significant changes, and it’s part of a segment that is rapidly shrinking anyway.
With the Bolt already assembled there, I expect some other electric will take it’s place at Lake Orion.
Wow sounds like the old 1.4T suffers a plethora of issues even with lower miles. Is it any wonder people are changing over to other brands in droves? And in typical GM fashion they discontinue their best vehicles and keep the slowest selling outdated crap because as Mary quoted “we are still committed to the sedan”. “It’s just that you won’t really want the sedans we are selling and should move up to one of our far more profitable SUVs”. Classic attempt at bait and switch!
They should’ve kept the Cruze updated the interior & at least gave another engine option besides the LE2 1.4 or the Diesel. Axe the Sonic & Spark
The Sonic is a fine little vehicle; I had two of the origin 2012’s in LTZ trim; one a sedan 1.8 auto; the other a 1.4 hatch 6 speed manual.
Now you cannot even get the manual trans in a Sonic.
The sales issue is that the dealers don’t stock them, probably because of the profit margin.
Go to any larger dealer and try to find a Sonic. When the Cruze was still available, the dealer may have sixty of them, and two Sonic’s.
Even now the largest dealers locally have one or two, and in basic trim level.
When we were looking to replace our Sonic’s after seven years of decent service, there were none on the lot. To order one was an option, but the incentive was $500.00.
We then looked at the Malibu which was drastically reduced in price: Long story shortened, My wife bought a Malibu for the price of a Sonic. I ended up with a Redline Equinox.
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