Chevy Express Sales Second In Segment During Q2 2020

September 21, 2020 6:25 pm

Chevy Express sales decreased in the United States, Canada, and Mexico during the second quarter of 2020.

Chevrolet Express Sales - Q2 2020 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Express deliveries totaled 9,006 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 58 percent compared to 21,528 units sold in Q2 2019.

In the first six months of the year, Express sales decreased about 42 percent to 22,315 units.

MODEL	Q2 2020 / Q2 2019	Q2 2020	Q2 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
EXPRESS	-58.17%	9,006	21,528	-42.40%	22,315	38,743

Chevrolet Express Sales - Q2 2020 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Express deliveries totaled 450 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 67 percent compared to 1,355 units sold in Q2 2019.

In the first six months of the year, Express sales decreased about 48 percent to 1,364 units.

MODEL	Q2 2020 / Q2 2019	Q2 2020	Q2 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
EXPRESS	-66.79%	450	1,355	-48.39%	1,364	2,643

Chevrolet Express Sales - Q2 2020 - Mexico

In Mexico, Chevrolet Express deliveries totaled 43 units in Q2 2020, a decrease of about 49 percent compared to 85 units sold in Q2 2019.

In the first six months of the year, Express sales decreased about 38 percent to 119 units.

MODEL	Q2 2020 / Q2 2019	Q2 2020	Q2 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
EXPRESS	-49.41%	43	85	-38.34%	119	193

Competitive Sales Comparison

Surprisingly, Chevy Express sales enabled the vehicle to maintain its established, second-place position in the segment by sales volume during Q2 2020, behind the Ford Transit in first place (see running Ford Transit sales). The Express outsold the Ram ProMaster, Ford E-Series – which is only available as a cutaway van (see Ford E-Series sales), the Express’ corporate twin – the GMC Savana (see GMC Savana sales), as well as the Nissan NV.

The Ford Transit accounted for a commanding 39 percent of the segment, while the Express held for 19 percent. The Ram ProMaster took 17 percent, Ford E-Series saw 12 percent, and both the GMC Savana and Nissan NV held 6 percent.

Sales Numbers - Full-Size Vans - Q2 2020 - United States

MODEL	Q2 20 / Q2 19	Q2 20	Q2 19	Q2 20 SHARE	Q2 19 SHARE	YTD 20 / YTD 19	YTD 20	YTD 19
FORD TRANSIT	-56.52%	17,944	41,265	39%	40%	-25.07%	54,780	73,107
CHEVROLET EXPRESS	-58.17%	9,006	21,528	19%	21%	-42.40%	22,315	38,743
RAM PROMASTER	-40.92%	7,913	13,393	17%	13%	-34.49%	17,498	26,712
FORD E-SERIES	-49.81%	5,802	11,560	12%	11%	-28.86%	15,900	22,351
GMC SAVANA	-68.60%	2,984	9,503	6%	9%	-55.40%	7,166	16,069
NISSAN NV	-42.57%	2,888	5,029	6%	5%	-30.62%	6,616	9,536
TOTAL	-54.50%	46,537	102,278			-33.37%	124,275	186,518

Combined deliveries of the Ford Transit and E-Series totaled 23,746 units, accounting for 51 percent segment share during the quarter. Meanwhile, GM’s offerings, the Chevy Express and GMC Savana, saw 11,990 cumulative deliveries for a 25 percent segment share, significantly less than that of The Blue Oval.

The full-size mainstream van segment, which includes passenger, cargo, and cutaway/chassis cab models, contracted almost 55 percent to 46,537 units in Q2 2020, meaning that Chevy Express sales during the quarter contracted slightly faster than the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

The Express is an old model that traces its roots to the 1990s. In fact, it’s the oldest product in the Chevrolet lineup, and by a wide margin. But as the figures indicate, the vehicle remains a solid seller for Chevrolet and General Motors. In fact, the fact that the Express (and Savana) continue to garner as many deliveries is quite impressive given that GM’s twin vans are the oldest vehicles in the segment and have seen very few changes over the past two decades.

We attribute the drop in Express sales during the second quarter of 2020 to two complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic:

Sub-par supply at the dealer level as a result of production downtime lasting roughly two months, preventing dealers from selling the vehicle and fulfilling fleet/commercial orders, and
Sub-par demand, as some companies scaled back plans to purchase new products or update their fleets

Though these two circumstances impacted the entire industry and segment, they appear to have had a slightly more pronounced impact on the Express (and Savana).

Despite the pronounced 58 percent drop in deliveries during the second-quarter of 2020, the Express saw only a 4.66 percent decrease in sales volume during the complete 2019 calendar year. We attribute the model’s sustained sales performance to the product being a proven workhorse in the marketplace and cost-effective to buy, upfit, operate and maintain, despite the availability of significantly newer and more competitive products such as the Ford Transit, Nissan NV and Fiat/Ram ProMaster.

Working in the Express’ favor are well-established upfitter products and processes that prepare or modify the vehicle for various commercial duties. We also believe that the introduction of the 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel LWN engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (M5U), introduced for the 2017 model year, has generated increased demand for the model. Additionally, the recent introduction of the all-new 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine for the 2021 model year should also cause a healthy uptick in interest. That said, the Express’ success could dwindle in the market as the competition continues to offer newer vehicles, and as overall sales suffer due to the Coronavirus. Luckily, it seems that GM is working on a replacement, and it will very likely be battery electric.

About The Numbers

All percent change figures compared to Chevy Express sales for Q2 2019, unless noted otherwise
In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q2 2020 and 77 selling days in Q2 2019
Sales numbers for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van are not available, since the Mercedes-Benz Vans division does not break out sales by model. Requests to provide the sales data have been continuously declined.

GM Q2 2020 sales reports:

GM Q2 2020 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q2 2020 U.S.A.
GM Canada sales Q2 2020
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q2 2020
- Cadillac Canada sales Q2 2020
- Buick Canada sales Q2 2020
- GMC Canada sales Q2 2020
GM Mexico sales Q2 2020
- GM Mexico sales April 2020
  - Chevrolet Mexico April 2020 sales
  - Buick Mexico April 2020 sales
  - GMC Mexico April 2020 sales
  - Cadillac Mexico April 2020 sales
- GM Mexico sales May 2020 sales
  - Chevrolet Mexico May 2020 sales
  - Buick Mexico May 2020 sales
  - GMC Mexico May 2020 sales
  - Cadillac Mexico May 2020 sales
- GM Mexico sales June 2020
  - Chevrolet Mexico June 2020 sales
  - Buick Mexico June 2020 sales
  - GMC Mexico June 2020 sales
  - Cadillac Mexico June 2020 sales
GM China sales Q2 2020
- Chevrolet China Q2 2020 sales
- Buick China Q2 2020 sales
- Cadillac China Q2 2020 sales
GM Brazil sales Q2 2020
GM Argentina sales Q2 2020
GM South Korea sales Q2 2020
- GM South Korea April 2020 sales
  - Chevrolet South Korea April 2020 sales
  - Cadillac South Korea April 2020 sales
- GM South Korea May 2020 sales
  - Chevrolet South Korea May 2020 sales
  - Cadillac South Korea May 2020 sales
- GM South Korea June 2020 sales
  - Chevrolet South Korea June 2020 sales
  - Cadillac South Korea June 2020 sales
GM Russia sales Q2 2020
- GM Russia sales April 2020
- GM Russia sales May 2020
- GM Russia sales June 2020