Chevrolet Sonic Sales Increase 21 Percent In Q4 2019
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Chevrolet Sonic sales increased in the United States while decreasing in Canada and Mexico in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q4 2019 - United States
In the United States, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 3,339 units in Q4 2019, an increase of about 21 percent compared to 2,765 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Sonic sales decreased about 32 percent to 13,971 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | +20.76% | 3,339 | 2,765 | -32.22% | 13,971 | 20,613 |
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q4 2019 - Canada
In Canada, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 0 units in Q4 2019, a decrease of about 100 percent compared to 68 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Sonic sales decreased about 99 percent to 15 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | -100.00% | 0 | 68 | -99.47% | 15 | 2,831 |
Chevrolet Sonic Sales - Q4 2019 - Mexico
In Mexico, Chevrolet Sonic deliveries totaled 0 units in Q4 2019, a decrease of about 100 percent compared to 35 units sold in Q4 2018.During the complete 2019 calendar year, Sonic sales decreased about 99 percent to 8 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONIC | -100.00% | 0 | 35 | -99.09% | 8 | 877 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
Chevrolet Sonic sales performance in the fourth quarter places the subcompact model in second-to-last in its competitive set in terms of overall sales volume.
By comparison, roughly three times as many units of the Nissan Versa were delivered during the same timeframe, giving the vehicle a 20 percent segment. The Nissan was followed by the Honda Fit in second place with 17 percent segment share, the discontinued Ford Fiesta (see Ford Fiesta sales) in third with 15 percent and the Mitsubishi Mirage in fourth place with 12 percent. The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent also outsold the Sonic, with 12 percent segment share each. The Sonic had 7 percent segment share, up from 5 percent during Q4 2018. The Toyota Yaris – itself a rebadged Mazda2 – was in last place with a 6 percent share.
Sales Numbers - Subcompact Mainstream Cars - Q4 2019 - United States
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 | Q4 19 SHARE | Q4 18 SHARE | YTD 19 / YTD 18 | YTD 19 | YTD 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NISSAN VERSA | -46.62% | 9,463 | 17,726 | 20% | 29% | -12.15% | 66,596 | 75,809 |
| HONDA FIT | +244.29% | 8,146 | 2,366 | 17% | 4% | +0.32% | 35,414 | 35,300 |
| FORD FIESTA | -51.91% | 7,315 | 15,212 | 15% | 25% | +16.27% | 60,148 | 51,730 |
| MITSUBISHI MIRAGE | +15.78% | 5,789 | 5,000 | 12% | 8% | +10.90% | 26,966 | 24,316 |
| KIA RIO | +1.60% | 5,775 | 5,684 | 12% | 9% | +8.64% | 24,961 | 22,975 |
| HYUNDAI ACCENT | -22.79% | 5,613 | 7,270 | 12% | 12% | -11.90% | 25,628 | 29,090 |
| CHEVROLET SONIC | +20.76% | 3,339 | 2,765 | 7% | 5% | -32.22% | 13,971 | 20,613 |
| TOYOTA YARIS | -34.23% | 2,725 | 4,143 | 6% | 7% | -19.45% | 21,916 | 27,209 |
| TOTAL | -19.95% | 48,165 | 60,166 | -3.99% | 275,600 | 287,042 |
The mainstream subcompact car segment contracted nearly 20 percent to 48,165 units in Q4 2019. As such, the Sonic outpaced the segment average during the quarter.
The GM Authority Take
Chevrolet Sonic sales rebounded in Q4 after several dismal quarters in 2018, which caused the 2019 calendar year sales to be in the red by 32 percent. We attribute the Sonic’s positive fourth quarter performance to any combination of the following potential factors:
- Carry-over shoppers from the now-discontinued Chevrolet Cruze
- Healthy fleet sales
- Attractive incentives during the October, November, December timeframe
We believe that the blip in Q4 Sonic sales is an anomaly, and that Sonic sales will continue to slide in 2020, unless GM refocuses its attention on the space and introduces an all-new product. The possibility of that taking place is small, as GM seems to be getting ready to discontinue the Sonic altogether in the not-too-distant future.
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 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
- 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
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A large part of the problem when it comes to sales is lack of inventory. Doesn’t matter what brand or model. What matters is that you can’t buy what you can’t see. Just try to find a brand new 2019 or 2020 Sonic on most dealer lots. At least out here in the LA area, they just don’t seem to stock them. The dealers that do have some all seem to stock cars like they are putting them into a government fleet program! I’ve said this my entire career in automotive sales: You can’t sell from an empty shelf.
Out of curiosity I went to no less than 5 Buick/GMC dealers and couldn’t find a single new in stock Regal anywhere. Each one had 3-5 Malibu’s and even a couple of Impala’s. It’s so obvious that they just did not want this car to succeed in any way shape or form and are deliberately sabotaging the car for failure. As for this car the killing off of the Cruze may have shifted a few customers into the Sonic instead but as stated I highly doubt this trend will last.
GM is sabotaging the product. It’s still competitive, it still drives better than anything else in the segment, it’s still quieter than anything else in the segment, and would sell well if they would stock it with the convenience package and collision-avoidance package. But if you find any stock at all it doesn’t have the features that you’d want. I’m frankly just about done with the American manufacturers on cars and will buy import next time if this doesn’t change and fast . . . . pity because I really like my 2014 Sonic and would be interested in buying another if you could find it configured right.
Shoreline: Agree. There is the option of ordering, but good luck there too. Where I used to work back in the mid-west, we ordered cars for people all the time. Out here in California, NOBODY wants to order a car. If you are not ready to buy that second from what they have in stock, they kind of just let you walk. Where I work (Mazda and Volvo dealer), we often order special request Volvo’s, but never a Mazda.
Currently I drive two Buick’s. My 2018 Encore that I love and purchased brand new and a 2006 Lucerne CXL V8 with 163K. Because the Lucerne is such a nice car and great for the highway, I really was thinking about getting rid of the Encore and getting the Sonic (in that cool new blue color) as a much lower priced car but with a hatch style. That would be my city/daily driving car for easy parking, etc. Then take the big Buick on the freeways. Well, zero luck in me finding the Sonic in the color/options I wanted and nobody wants to order the car.
Sonic gone from the Canadian Market all 2019 ,now The Cruze sedan and hatchback cancelled in late 2019 leaving the Chev. dealers with the old and frumpy hardly updated Trax to fight Kia ,Hyundai ,Honda’s Toyota and Nissan new or upgraded models to continue eating our lunch till GM management comes up with a totally economical low cost EV that they have put all their eggs in one basket on, if that ever occurs with all the variants in the buyer base ,I doubt if it will ever happen ,sadly for the corporation and retirees !
I looked at a Sonic sedan before I bought my 19 Cruze LS, and it was way over priced. The Cruze was a no brainer.