Chevrolet Bolt EV sales decreased in the United States and Mexico while decreasing in Canada during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q4 2019 - United States
In the United States, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 3,307 units in Q4 2019, a decrease of about 47 percent compared to 6,212 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Bolt EV sales decreased about 9 percent to 16,418 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -46.76% | 3,307 | 6,212 | -8.89% | 16,418 | 18,019 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q4 2019 - Canada
In Canada, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 1,186 units in Q4 2019, an increase of about 73 percent compared to 684 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Bolt EV sales increased about 56 percent to 4,050 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +73.39% | 1,186 | 684 | +55.53% | 4,050 | 2,604 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q4 2019 - Mexico
In Mexico, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 2 units in Q4 2019, a decrease of about 60 percent compared to 5 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Bolt EV sales increased about 35 percent to 27 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | -60.00% | 2 | 5 | +35.00% | 27 | 20 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q4 2019 - Brazil
In Brazil, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 5 units in Q4 2019.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Bolt EV sales totaled 7 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | * | 5 | * | * | 7 | 0 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV Sales - Q4 2019 - South Korea
In South Korea, Chevrolet Bolt EV deliveries totaled 1,808 units in Q4 2019, an increase of about 6,596 percent compared to 27 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Bolt EV sales decreased about 15 percent to 4,037 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +6,596.30% | 1,808 | 27 | -14.51% | 4,037 | 4,722 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
Chevrolet Bolt EV sales dropped precipitously during the fourth quarter of 2019, causing the the small EV to decrease its segment share from 14 percent in Q4 2018 to only 9 percent this quarter. Despite the steep drop, the Bolt remained in third place in its competitive set by sales volume, behind the segment-leading Toyota Prius, which commanded 55 percent of the segment share and the Hyundai Ioniq in second place with 15 percent of the segment share.
The Bolt EV outsold the rest of the segment, including the Nissan Leaf – the Bolt EV’s most direct rival, which saw sales decrease 19 percent. The Leaf was followed by the Honda Clarity. The rest of the competition was behind by a notable margin, including the Volkswagen e-Golf (which posted a significant uptick in sales), GM’s discontinued Chevy Volt (see Chevy Volt sales), and the Toyota Mirai hydrogen vehicle.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Small Alternative Energy Cars - Q4 2019 - USA
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 | Q4 19 SHARE | Q4 18 SHARE | YTD 19 / YTD 18 | YTD 19 | YTD 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA PRIUS | +4.26% | 19,460 | 18,665 | 55% | 41% | -20.40% | 69,718 | 87,590 |
| HYUNDAI IONIQ | +56.43% | 5,428 | 3,470 | 15% | 8% | +29.84% | 19,574 | 15,076 |
| CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -46.76% | 3,307 | 6,212 | 9% | 14% | -8.89% | 16,418 | 18,019 |
| NISSAN LEAF | -19.24% | 3,254 | 4,029 | 9% | 9% | -15.97% | 12,365 | 14,715 |
| HONDA CLARITY | -66.55% | 2,295 | 6,860 | 6% | 15% | -42.23% | 11,654 | 20,174 |
| VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF | +146.50% | 1,267 | 514 | 4% | 1% | +259.16% | 4,863 | 1,354 |
| CHEVROLET VOLT | -92.69% | 370 | 5,063 | 1% | 11% | -73.18% | 4,910 | 18,306 |
| TOYOTA MIRAI | -53.58% | 253 | 545 | 1% | 1% | -11.65% | 1,502 | 1,700 |
| TOTAL | -21.44% | 35,634 | 45,358 | -20.31% | 141,004 | 176,934 |
We should note that we have grouped mainstream alternative energy vehicles for the sake of this comparison, and not all models represent an apples-to-apples comparison with the Bolt EV. For instance, the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq sales figures are not exclusively representative of battery-electric vehicles, since those models include Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid variants of each vehicle. The case is similar for the Honda Clarity, which is available in Plug-In Hybrid, Electric and Fuel Cell flavors.
The mainstream dedicated new energy vehicle segment contracted 21 percent to 35,634 units in Q4 2019.
The GM Authority Take
The reason for the steep drop in Chevrolet Bolt EV sales volume during the fourth quarter of 2019 is quite simple: the GM Lake Orion plant that produces the vehicle did not produce a model for roughly four weeks as a result of the UAW labor strike, which lasted 40 days. As such, dealer inventories dwindled and customers were not able to purchase the Bolt EV that they wanted. We fully expect sales of the electric vehicle to spike back up during Q1 and Q2 of 2020, satisfying any pent-up demand created by the strike.
But like in prior quarter, we must note that Bolt EV sales volume has always been an area of concern, especially given GM’s strategy to dive headfirst into the electric vehicle space by planning to roll out 20 electric vehicles by the year 2023.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Bolt sales for Q4 2018, except as noted
- In the United States, there were 78 selling days in Q4 2019 and 77 selling days in Q4 2018
- South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
- China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales
- Toyota Prius sales include Prius, Prius Prime, Prius c and Prius v
- Toyota Mirai sales include Mirai fuel cell vehicle
- Hyundai Ioniq sales include Ioniq Electric, Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
- Honda Clarity sales include Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, Clarity Electric and Clarity Fuel Cell
- GM Q4 2019 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q4 2019 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q4 2019 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q4 2019 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q4 2019 U.S.A.
- GM Canada sales Q4 2019
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q4 2019
- Cadillac Canada sales Q4 2019
- Buick Canada sales Q4 2019
- GMC Canada sales Q4 2019
- GM Mexico sales Q4 2019
- GM Mexico sales October 2019
- GM Mexico sales November 2019 sales
- Chevrolet Mexico November 2019 sales
- Buick Mexico November 2019 sales
- GMC Mexico November 2019 sales
- Cadillac Mexico November 2019 sales
- GM Mexico sales December 2019
- Chevrolet Mexico December 2019 sales
- Buick Mexico December 2019 sales
- GMC Mexico December 2019 sales
- Cadillac Mexico December 2019 sales
- GM China sales Q4 2019
- Chevrolet China Q4 2019 sales
- Buick China Q4 2019 sales
- Cadillac China Q4 2019 sales
- GM Brazil sales Q4 2019
- GM South Korea sales Q4 2019
- Chevrolet October 2019 sales South Korea
- Cadillac October 2019 sales South Korea
- Chevrolet November 2019 sales South Korea
- Cadillac November 2019 sales South Korea
- GM December 2019 sales South Korea
- Chevrolet December 2019 sales South Korea
- Cadillac December 2019 sales South Korea
Comments
I think the disappearing tax incentive for GM is a bigger factor than supply shortage. Tesla posted a 50% decline in US market for Q4 deliveries too due to decreased incentive.
I think this speaks a truth that a lot of people don’t want to hear: the mass market isn’t ready for EV yet. Early adapters already got them and the rest of the people don’t genuinely want them.
And can’t afford them in the first place.
Correction: Tesla registration *in California* declined 50% in Q4 2019 due to fading tax incentives. I remembered it wrong but the idea is the same.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/16/new-tesla-registrations-in-california-nearly-halved-in-q4.html
Tesla is unique too. They have a flamboyant, tech-savvy, can-do, California CEO who also makes rockets and with their Model S they have developed an image as THE brand for socially conscious, upper income techie types. in short, it is the car of the Silicon Valley cool people. It is an image others sought to attach themselves to and emulate which spawned sales from lots of imitator-types. The frumpy little Chevrolet Bolt coming out of decay-ridden Detroit and GM has none of that cachet. Its why I think Cadillac as Tesla is never going to work the way the folks at GM think it will.
Most people living in suburbs and commuting daily can afford to go EV. A large majority of new car buyers are in single family homes. You can install a level 2 charger at home , GM dealerships will do that for just $500. The Bolt needs to be an AWD crossover. That’s all.
Why would anyone buy a Bolt when even in the Premier model it is lacking features that are standard on other brands. Example: Almost all other brands provide a power adjustable driver seat. In the Bolt, such is not available even as an option.
I currently drive a 2018 Volt and would like to upgrade to an all electric vehicle. However for the reasons cited above I would not consider the Bolt.
All the dinosaurs (GM, Ford, Nissan, BMW & etc) do not want to sell Battery Electric Vehicles. They always hobble the cars they put out so no one buys them. I tried to buy a Bolt (after having a gen 1 and a gen 2 Volt) but I could not get at any price Adaptive Cruise Control. WHY????????
So that was the deal breaker? You simply didn’t want one. Mine was $27400 out the door last week. The cruise works just fine.
The Prius isn’t an EV!
Enjoying my Bolt that was produced in Dec, 2019. I purchased last Thursday for an out the door price of $27400.Tremendous bargain.