Chevrolet Malibu sales increased in the United States and Canada while decreasing in Mexico and South Korea during the third quarter of 2019.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | -7.47% | 34,314 | 37,084 | -8.73% | 131,917 | 144,542 |
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | -21.69% | 1,149 | 1,467 | -12.46% | 5,823 | 6,652 |
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | -98.36% | 6 | 365 | -90.52% | 146 | 1,540 |
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | -49.45% | 2,734 | 5,409 | -28.40% | 12,210 | 17,052 |
Chevrolet Malibu sales performance in the fourth quarter enabled the midsize sedan to move up one position in its competitive set, becoming the fourth best-selling model in its segment.
The Toyota Camry continued to dominate the segment, remaining the best-selling model with 78,522 deliveries and a 25 percent segment share. The Camry was followed by the Honda Accord in second place, with 63,104 deliveries and 20 percent segment share. Third place went to the Nissan Altima, which accounted for 49,214 deliveries and a 16 percent segment share. The Malibu saw 11 percent segment share, followed by the discontinued Ford Fusion with 32,137 deliveries and 10 percent segment share. The remaining models saw single-digit segment share, including the Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Subaru Legacy, Mazda6 (see Mazda6 sales), Volkswagen Passat (see VW Passat sales), and the discontinued Chrysler 200.
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 | Q4 19 SHARE | Q4 18 SHARE | YTD 19 / YTD 18 | YTD 19 | YTD 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA CAMRY | -2.52% | 78,522 | 80,552 | 25% | 23% | -1.88% | 336,978 | 343,439 |
| HONDA ACCORD | -16.72% | 63,104 | 75,772 | 20% | 21% | -8.08% | 267,567 | 291,071 |
| NISSAN ALTIMA | +15.67% | 49,214 | 42,547 | 16% | 12% | +0.02% | 209,183 | 209,146 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | -7.47% | 34,314 | 37,084 | 11% | 10% | -8.73% | 131,917 | 144,542 |
| FORD FUSION | -33.92% | 32,137 | 48,636 | 10% | 14% | -4.35% | 166,045 | 173,600 |
| KIA OPTIMA | -3.68% | 20,957 | 21,758 | 7% | 6% | -4.90% | 96,623 | 101,603 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | -20.90% | 19,098 | 24,143 | 6% | 7% | -16.79% | 87,466 | 105,118 |
| SUBARU LEGACY | -1.58% | 8,886 | 9,029 | 3% | 3% | -12.58% | 35,063 | 40,109 |
| MAZDA MAZDA6 | -31.60% | 4,239 | 6,197 | 1% | 2% | -30.43% | 21,524 | 30,938 |
| VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | -85.36% | 1,153 | 7,874 | 0% | 2% | -65.89% | 14,123 | 41,401 |
| CHRYSLER 200 | -93.02% | 3 | 43 | 0% | 0% | -95.40% | 48 | 1,043 |
| TOTAL | -11.88% | 311,627 | 353,635 | -7.79% | 1,366,537 | 1,482,010 |
The Malibu saw its segment share improve from 10 to 11 percent in Q4 2019. Only one model – the Nissan Altima – managed to post increases in sales volume during the quarter.
The midsize mainstream sedan segment contracted an average of 12 percent to 311,627 units in Q4 2019. As such, the 7 percent decrease in Chevrolet Malibu sales during the quarter outperformed the segment average.
Chevrolet Malibu sales had quite the healthy performance during the fourth quarter. While many might characterize the 7.5 percent decline in sales volume as not particularly healthy, Malibu sales did fall at a slower rate than the segment average, and slower than many competitors. For instance, the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda6, VW Passat and the discontinued Ford Fusion all posted great sales volume decreases on a percentage basis.
The feat is even more impressive when considering the fact that production of the Chevrolet Malibu at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas was stopped for 40 days as a result of the UAW strike, negatively impacting availability of Chevy’s midsize sedan at the dealer (retail) level. As such, Malibu sales may have fared even better.
It will be interesting to see how Chevrolet Malibu sales fare during 2020, particularly as Japanese rivals – namely the Accord and Camry – continue to dominate the segment on the one hand, and buyers continue gravitating toward crossover SUVs at the expense of sedans on the other.
The Malibu is currently the only Chevrolet sedan to not be discontinued or be planned to be discontinued in the immediate future, though we understand that the Malibu will be discontinued in 2024. Meanwhile, other Chevy sedans like the Cruze and Volt have already been axed, while the Impala will be discontinued in the near future and the Chevy Sonic will likely also be dropped, though Chevrolet has denied those claims. As of this writing, we understand that the Malibu will be discontinued in 2024.
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size sedan sold in most markets where Chevrolet has a business presence. It is currently Chevrolet's second-largest sedan, in the U.S. and Canada, slotting above the subcompact Chevrolet Sonic and compact Chevrolet Cruze but under the full-size Chevrolet Impala. The current, ninth-generation model was introduced in 2016. It rides on the GM E2 platform shared with the Buick Regal, Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Holden Commodore NG, and the Cadillac XT4. For 2019 - the fourth model year of the ninth-gen model - the Malibu received a midcycle enhancement, otherwise known as a facelift or refresh, that consists of revised exterior styling, a new Malibu RS trim level, a CVT transmission for L, LS, LT and RS models, a new infotainment system, a new 8-inch reconfigurable driver information center (DIC), LED headlamps on the Premier model, and various other new features. The Chevrolet Malibu is produced at the following GM plants:About Chevrolet Malibu
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View Comments
One of those Q4 sales was to me - a 2019 LT. 0% for 72 months with no money down.
Although I thought I’d dislike the CVT and auto stop/start, these work flawlessly.
Great car.
It's sometimes difficult to wrap your head around the idea that the company that designed and built the award winning 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette also designed the other cars and trucks that bares the same Chevrolet nameplate, one has to wonder what would happen if Tadge Juchter was made Chevrolet's President and was able to make decisions on how what a Chevy Malibu should look and perform like.
You mean even lower and sleeker and more aerodynamic, making it virtually impossible for even more to get into it? Maybe a bigger “flight deck”-style dash, center stack, and console? That way, even quite a few who CAN get in the now-lower doors, still won’t be able to get comfortable?
Sounds like a real winning combination to me, yes indeed!
As it stands now: unless the prices are steeply discounted, many won’t buy because the car is headed toward being an orphan as Chevrolet abandons the sedan market. Even the average buyer knows that for better or worse, that Toyotas, Subarus, Hondas, and even Nissans, will maintain better resale value.
I know the Malibu is a quite a smooth operator out on the roads, but it does seem a bit dull. It would be nice to compare it to the base Camry/Altima/Accord to see how it stacks up.
The Fusion is still in production until 2021. And still outsold the Malibu for the full-year by more than 30,000. Maybe a decent refresh will help the Malibu pull in those American-loyal Fusion buyers after 2021.
I got a great deal last year on a 17 Fusion to use as a commuter car. I hate that the market is abandoning sedans but it's a great time for a buyer to get a fantastic deal since most buyers don't want them.
Fusion and Altima are very big in the rental call fleets, so I wouldn't put much into their sales.
Nissan has been reducing its fleet sales of recent, and the large decline in sales of most their models (especially the Rogue), reflect that. Despite this, the new Altima is one of their few vehicles to have a uptick in sales. So the new design is for sure helping compared to the previous model which was definitely popular on fleet lots