Chevy Isn’t Worried About The Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco
97
Sponsored Links
If you haven’t heard, GM’s cross-town rival, Ford, recently reintroduced the Bronco. The off-road-oriented 4×4 SUV has garnered an impressive 165,000 reservations in just three weeks. With the new Ford Bronco looming, and the Jeep Wrangler continuing to be popular, one would think Chevy would be at least a little concerned. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as indicated in a recent GM Authority interview with senior marketing manager for Chevrolet SUVs, Brad Franz.
Jeep Wrangler
“We keep a very close eye on our competition, and obviously we are always focused on what our competitors are doing,” Franz told GM Authority executive editor, Alex Luft. “We think that what the Blazer stands for in the marketplace right now is more of the on-road performance, and that’s how we have the vehicle positioned. So, we feel good about how we’ve been able to build [the Blazer] brand in that fashion.”
Chevy Blazer
As Franz points out, with the Jeep Wrangler and new Ford Bronco locking horns in the 4×4 off-road segment, the latest Chevy Blazer takes an entirely different approach. And while some fans lament the Blazer’s transition to a unibody crossover, it seems to be working to its benefit.
“Now, as you know, the Bronco and Wrangler are going to be bringing very heavy off-road type communication, so we feel like the Blazer will have its spot in the on-road space, and the sales performance reflects that,” Franz added.
Chevy Blazer
As we covered yesterday, Chevy Blazer sales posted a stellar performance during Q3 2020. Deliveries shot up 45 percent to 23,486 units, allowing it to secure a second-place finish in terms of cumulative sales in its segment. What’s more, the Blazer increased retail market share by 2.2 percentage points when compared to the third quarter of 2019.
So, the Chevy Blazer is selling very well, despite the impending launch of the reborn Ford Bronco and the ongoing popularity of the Jeep Wrangler. Without a doubt, the Chevrolet crossover is playing to its strengths as an on-road vehicle that hits right at the heart of the mainstream crossover market, rather than off-road hijinks like the two rivals from Ford and Jeep. Incidentally, the Blazer now outsells its direct rival from the Blue Oval – the Ford Edge, which might not see a next generation.
Sales Numbers - Two-Row Midsize Mainstream Crossovers - Q3 2020 - United States
| MODEL | Q3 20 / Q3 19 | Q3 20 | Q3 19 | Q3 20 SHARE | Q3 19 SHARE | YTD 20 / YTD 19 | YTD 20 | YTD 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | -8.61% | 56,447 | 61,768 | 34% | 34% | -17.39% | 152,856 | 185,040 |
| CHEVROLET BLAZER | +45.17% | 29,486 | 20,312 | 18% | 11% | +103.25% | 71,356 | 35,107 |
| HYUNDAI SANTA FE | -6.11% | 26,991 | 28,748 | 16% | 16% | -26.89% | 70,420 | 96,319 |
| FORD EDGE | -28.50% | 26,211 | 36,660 | 16% | 20% | -23.82% | 76,862 | 100,894 |
| NISSAN MURANO | -38.94% | 14,884 | 24,376 | 9% | 13% | -10.90% | 44,859 | 50,348 |
| HONDA PASSPORT | +10.01% | 11,642 | 10,583 | 7% | 6% | +10.12% | 27,665 | 25,123 |
| TOYOTA VENZA | +23,728.57% | 1,668 | 7 | 1% | 0% | +18,433.33% | 1,668 | 9 |
| TOTAL | -8.29% | 167,329 | 182,454 | -9.57% | 445,686 | 492,840 |
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Blazer news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
GM should be worried. It’s tragic that they took the iconic Blazer name and put it on a crossover. WHY!?
I’m a long time Chevy fan but I’m buying a Bronco. Build something new and give it solid live axles. One up the Bronco. Come on man!
Life long fan of Gm and have only bought GM cars for more than 20 years. 2 months ago I got a Jeep Gladiator and I have to say, GM is missing a big opportunity in the 4×4/customization market. Is the gladiator a great vehicle? Probably not, but it’s fun to drive, fun to customize and doesnt look like every cuv on the road. Except for the vette, GM is boring AF these days. It’s sad.
As you saw, XEvil 5.0 successfully broke any anti-bots measures on your website.
Oh yes, XEvil can solve Google ReCaptcha-3 too. Without any problem – just do check the videos about XEvil in YouTube.
And you can use XEvil for your website! Increase popularity and make money, as other happy XEvil 5.0 users 😉
Good luck!
What pisses me off when GM killed off Hummer they had the HUMMER H4 almost ready for production. GM needs to create something exciting for us GM LOYALISTS WHO FEEL WE GOTTA JUMP SHIP EVERY TIME WE NEED A FUN, AGRESSIVE, MASCULINE VEHICLE WE WANT. My Wife Wants a Jeep Gladiator all done up with 6 in lift kit, etc. I have 3 daughters who now drive, one wants a Jeep Rubicon 4 Door again lifted etc and my youngest wants the new 2 door bronco, and I’m in line to buy the 2 door bronco also. I’m honestly angry at GM since I was super excited to buy the Hummer H4 if it made it too production. GM lost me on a Raptor competitor so I had to buy a Ford Raptor even though I prefer GM Trucks. I may buy the New Hummer truck if it looks tough. I owned a 2012 Camaro 2SS and love it, even though the cabin packaging was tight and blindspots everywhere. I pray GM QUITS LOSING US TO OTHER BRANDS. GM needs to reinvent the Camaro into a hybrid or full electric ,I’m in if they do but make it look mean…I will also buy any HUMMER H4 GM produces any day, that H4 still looks bad ass. Please ALEX talk to them you hold clout with them
Sure. If you compare the Blazer to the other vehicles in the chart, it wins hands down. But to bury their head in the sand and not worry about the Bronco and Wrangler (Land Rover Defender for more upscale), They are making a big mistake. They are under estimating the Bronco culture. The Bronco and Bronco Sport will decimate the Blazer. Jeep is in for a run for the money as well but I still see a lot more Wranglers on the road than Blazers.
Hey, the Chevy Seltos…I mean Santa Fe, er, Enclave. Wait, no…CX-9? I actually meant CR-V.
I can’t tell one of these from anything else in it’s class without looking at the badges.
The Toyota 4-runner has had a better design for the last decade, and I’m not into foreign.
Chevy has gone limp, and i can’t wait to offload this Silverado for a Ram.
Blazer! Great CAR with the wrong name!
All in all I would like toes Chevy and GM as a whole to be if not the leader at least be competitive in all segments. I also would like them to stop being late to the game and be the first for a change. I guess that’s just me remembering how things used to be.
So the Blazer is “on road performance” like a Trackhawk performance? or is it more of an ecoboost Explorer performance? Meanwhile at Chevy they believe a 14000LB GVWR (3500) truck should not go against a 14000LB GVWR (F450) truck because it’s not in the same “class”
It’s just another SUV trading on the Blazer name. I’m sure GM will sell more Blazers as an SUV than if they’d taken the time to make a serious off-roader, but at GMI’m sure that higher sales count more than building an off-roader for a significantly smaller off-road market. Chevy chose to build a low performance pavement dweller. I had hopes for a reincarnated K5, I found it in a new Rubicon.
The Blazer sells so well because of its edgy looks to the hip up and coming crowd. Considering what GM has given up over the last decade or so, it would take some doing to build back up a following necessary to validate a real off road Blazer. Sadly their loss is Ford and Jeep’s gain.
I’ll be honest, I have no qualms about the Blazer not being an off road vehicle, I also have no qualms about the Blazer being basically a car-based crossover thingy. I’m not even upset about the fact that the Blazer has a lot of Camaro-inspired styling or that it’s offered with 4cyl and 6cyl engines. What I do have a problem with, I’ll explain by listing the things that I personally feel that would have been better than what GM did.
1.) The blazer should have been build on a variant of the VSS-R Alpha-2 Chassis: The Blazer should have been a rear wheel drive based vehicle with all-wheel drive as an option. The general size and styling of the blazer aren’t bad and lets be honest, not too many people seriously off road their trucks anyway. A two-door Tahoe GT would have been a better option for that. Also with the possible demise of the Camaro, It would give GM enthusiast something to fall back on since the world is going SUV crazy anyway.
2.) Add performance: The Blazer should have a longitudinal drivetrain with the 10-speed automatic behind the 310hp 2.7L, the 400hp 3.0L Twin turbo as the RS version and the 455hp 3.6L twin turbo v6 as the SS version. Add the suspensions from the 1LE and the ZL1 Camaro to the RS and SS versions of the Blazer and offer things like dual mode exhaust systems, cold air intakes, optional exhaust systems, optional GM wheels (basically the ones off the Camaros), Body upgrades, spoilers, graphics, Recaro seating, smoked taillamps, red outline bowtie badges and things like that then yes, GM could say that the Blazer would be in a good spot for on road performance.
3.) Offer a high country variant of the Blazer: 310hp 2.7L and all of the high country trim and equipment and call it a day.
These articles seem custom-made for the anti-Barra bros to air their grievances about how she’s the worst GM CEO ever conveniently omitting about 50 years of GM mismanagement including badge engineering, cost-cutting, and moving manufacturing out of the US and Canada. All done under the watch of several former CEOs. The most egregious sin being the annihilation of Flint, Michigan thanks to Roger Smith. Don’t forget Rick Wagoner who oversaw GM’s financial collapse and bankruptcy, which, I’m sure many of you continue to blame on those greedy line workers who earned a living wage. How dare they want that.
Also, can we stop complaining when GM doesn’t follow Ford into every niche market?
Ford is not a not a company anyone should want to emulate at the moment as they’re not doing too hot.
Ford’s stock is in the tank and they only just let go of the CEO who killed off all of Ford’s sedans and jumped head first into trucks and SUVs. The company even managed to bungle the launch of one of it’s most important models: the Explorer.
Let’s also remember that Ford has no electric strategy outside of a couple of vehicles and some expensive partnerships with VW and Rivian. While many of you take that as a badge of honor, in reality, it’s a sign of a company without a long-term strategy. Electric is the future and if a car company has to outsource electric development to a competitor, they’re already losing.
Andy – Hey everyone Andy says stop giving your opinions, because his is the only one that matters…. So, I’ll give you the “50 years” of mismanagement but actually no…. what was mismanaged was the negotiations with the UAW. The UAW is responsible “entirely” for GM’s demise as it sucked the finances out of the company. I’m talking strikes (extortion) unless you give us what we want, I’m talking job banks for lazy, fat @$$ ed employees who got paid to do nothing for months and months and years, I’m talking about how GM still has a $30 per hour cost disadvantage for crappy ungrateful employees, I’m talking they pay less than 3% of their healthcare costs when the national average is dramatically higher and they refuse to help their company by paying .05 more, I’m talking legacy benefits that bankrupted the company …. GM needs to move ALL their mfg. jobs out of the USA, kill the UAW and then move the jobs back.
Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, BMW, who am I missing? None have to put up with the UAW crap, corruption, lazy people, thugs, or extortion NOR do their employees want the UAW. The employees do not want a union they know what a cancer it is…
GM was a golden goose that couldn’t build competitive products due to costs, so they built crap and lost market share. GM had what 50% Mkt Share in 1980 and now has 14%… WHY? Their competition built better vehicles at a better value. GM needs to level the playing field to truly get back in the game which means cutting costs and labor is the highest cost.
Mary Barra has led GM for 10 years and the stock is nearly exactly where it was when she was coronated, any other person w/a “member” would have been fired years ago especially with the $$ pissed away on Cadillac the last decade. The mismanagement in the past is not managing costs directly related to labor (an expense) and legacy benefits, but now MB was handed a company with a clean balance sheet… what has been done in the last decade is pure incompetence…
When I met her, she said she wanted to change the culture… though her dad was a lifer as is, she… she’s where she is because Barry Soetoro and Company installed her… that’s it. If I was a stockholder I would not be happy, but then again my stock is in much better managed companies… GM isn’t worried about anyone because its run by idiots..
Marketshare have nothing to do with rather GM stayed in business or not as seen with them begging congress with 23% of the market. Also Ford and Chrysler had bigger marketshares with them losing out also without overtaking GM, also them having lower stock prices from when GM came out of BK don’t sound like having everything together either.
As for UAW, yes they’re not innocent but they didn’t decide to shut down factories, cost cut materials and pullout of segments, management did that. As for MB, President Obama didn’t install her as CEO, GM did.
We’re not talking about Ford or Chrysler so don’t mask GM’s current failures and incompetence by masking the issue or changing the subject.
The UAW extortion and the company being saddled with legacy costs IS the reason for GM’s demise. Mgt did the best they could but when your employees walk off or threaten the health of the company they did what they had to. That said for Toyota to build a Camry or GM to build a Malibu GM’s costs were higher and therefore a decision needed to be made: either build the exact vehicle but at a higher price or field a similarly priced vehicle but it wouldn’t be as good… GM chose the later and the junk they made combined with resources being sucked into Job Banks, free healthcare, lazy employees, and generous pensions, bankrupted the company. Rick Waggoner was a fantastic CEO as he had the vision to launch GM China which arguably saved the company. But the above is what brought GM from 50% to 14% mkt share… and shrinking…
So Barry Soetoro fired Rick Waggoner, do you recall that? Why did he do that, because the Gubment owned GM… Then he (his minions) installed the goof from what Westinghouse? Then Worthless Dan Akerson replaced him (both figureheads as the Gubment owned GM…) then Akerson departs and MB gets the gig. An insider and lifer… if you don’t think elevating a woman to run America’s biggest car company, to break the glass ceiling wasn’t political you’re nuts. Especially since GM had the cleanest balance sheet in history… she was positioned to be a monster success… except she’s a failure and that’s more than obvious…
You mentioned UAW which isn’t exclusive to GM, again I ask how come the other guys didnt take over GMs spot?. For quality under old GM finally got it right for Malibu and others that generation but because of 08′ Housing Crisis people stop buying.
Rick Wagoner got Rick Wagoner fired because he didn’t know what he was doing and couldn’t answer basic questions that a major company CEO should answer in front of congress and the millions watching him, you see Chrysler’s Nardelli kept his job after the BK and the bailout. For MB please name a quarter that she lost money for GM due to mismanagement.
Guestt – Keep guessing… you’re just wrong about Wagoner, ok, no seriously you’re wrong. We’re not talking about Chrysler, but it was DIeter, Tom LaSorda (personal friend) and when Cerberus took over they appointed Nardelli, who was a disaster at HD. They then gave it to Fiat…
I don’t have figures on GM losses but you don’t either, nor were we discussing $ we were discussing the state of the company. That said the company pales in comparison to what she was given. It doesn’t take a monkey to save money by closing factories, moving production, exiting vehicle segments, exiting markets (countries)… you don’t get it do you? They’re not growing they’re shrinking and what they’re making stinks, Cadillac is a mess…. sure looks like mismanagement to this MBA. What did you do for GM put the air cleaners in that little thingy under the hood? Maybe put on the tires? Hyundai is more global than GM and aggressively growing and expanding segments and markets. You keep bringing up Ford n Chrysler.
So since they fired Red Ink Rick he was a bad “monkey” for not doing enough to save GM instead of crying to congress without a plan of action and got embarrassed. And a smaller GM is still an existing GM with room to grow, they were almost no GM. Ask the British how it feels with no home car industry.
What I do for GM is buy their products new on the dealer lot, that’s what I do, maybe you’ve changed my tires once.
You’re deranged… clearly as you have no argument that GM is shrinking whereas others are growing and expanding. Rick was forced out by an arrogant community organizer with zero experience in anything other than telling others how things ought to be and being “clean and articulate – Joe Biden”. MB was installed because she was not a he. Plenty of others could have elevated to take GM to new heights especially with a pristine balance sheet. But instead the failure installs a figurehead, who also fails. You are simply wrong and very uninformed and probably “identify” with weird ideologues like Barry.
You’d mentioned profits before and I think a 5th grader could figure out how to make money when nearly every product is made off the same platform. GM has what 2 FWD CUV platforms with perhaps 15 vehicles off them from $75K Cadillacs to $30K Chevys… none of which lead in any category. The Caddy CUV portfolio is a very bad joke as the XT6 was ridiculed as being “good, but not a luxury vehicle”-Motor Trend, the moment it came out. GM doesn’t field the best nor are they good values.
No I didn’t change your tires, I haven’t stepped on a GM dealership since or purchased any GM junk since 84, my last disastrous pile… rather Oldsmo-pile. When you sell substandard junk to your customers then don’t take care of them…. well that causes your company to shrink and lose market share. Enjoy your expensive, boring, FWD, platform appliance with terrible customer service and your delusional opinions…
Buzz off loser, nobody here wants to buy your Hyundai nor hear your cult political BS, still bitter after your purchase in ’84?, lol.
Since you’re a guestt, you’re cordially uninvited… the only loser is you butt face… Everyone has opinions but I guess the only ones that can voice them is if they agree with you.. thanks Komrade!
Hey guys, here’s an idea: how about you both shut the hell up, get off your computers, and get a life? Enough anger and division as it is without you two fighting back and forth like a bunch of jealous schoolgirls. So not worth your effort.
The UAW has its faults obviously, but they are not responsible for the piss poor management starting with Roger Smith and the fiascos like GM 10, the “Minilacs” of the 1980s, cookie-cutter cars, half-a-billion dollar factories that either had automation that was unproven or a crap product to build. From the early 1980s to the 2000s, Ford was eating GM’s lunch using the same UAW workforce. Unfortunately, at the turn of this century Ford had piss poor management as well.
The UAW and the $30.00 phr cost disadvantage GM Ford and Chrysler have will lead to either their demise which we’ve all seen is possible and probable or they will be acquired which has been Chrysler fate. In a global economy if you cannot erase this ball and chain, it’ll drag you down. GM is pushing the EV train in the next few years and that’ll lead to significant cost savings as every vehicle will be on one platform, no more 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 cyl engines and the R&D to develop or their transmissions, etc… That said EV’s are not mainstream yet nor are they to be in the next decade. Mgt can only do so much if there is a permanent problem that cannot be erased but finally, MB had a clean balance sheet and the company is still a mess… .that’s her issue as are all the crappy “Jet Black” interiors and the pathetic mess that is Cadillac. GM leads in nothing, that’s her issue…
Bought a Jeep Wrangler (Willys) which we are picking up tomorrow morning. Opinions mean nothing. Voting with your checkbook is what really counts. GM simply did not have an attractive alternative. Visually, mechanically or price wise.
Joe the Willy’s is a cool vehicle, considering one myself. The lineup literally has something for everyone, as with the Grand Cherokee. Seems Aych below is telling you Equinox/Traverse & Trax are attractive alternatives… clearly he’s on something because none are even remotely considered by buyers of a Wrangler. Also none are in anyway “performance” vehicles, they’re boring, bran inspired, FWD, CUV, platform appliances…. with zero character and marginal value for the money… factor in ehh customer service and that’s another reason GM is shrinking….
Equinox, Traverse, & Trax: exist
GM: oN tHe RoAd PeRfOrMaNce
I feel like the issue with the Blazer name is irrational emotionalism. Because Blazers were once old school, rough-and-tumble classics, they can’t be anything else, or it’s, what…? Violating some sense of honor, that doesn’t really exist?
It’s fine to have fond memories of the old Blazers, and we all have wishes about things like this, but can we at least admit that the Blazer as it is now is a success for its time. Or slow up the frequency of the complaining. It’s a good SUV, and it sells like one.
They’re not “worried” because they don’t compete in the Wrangler or Bronco space.
Why the Blazer CUV Is even mentioned in reference to those vehicles is something of a misnomer.
As for the Blazer, it’s biggest competitor based on cross shopping (second choice vehicle) is the Equinox which happens to be down in sales about as much as Blazer sales are up YTD. Tough comparison given the virus though.
All of the lip-music aside, the Blazer looks pretty good but the scar of the Black Bowtie must go!
What do you see on all of the GM NASCAR Team suits is GOLD!
Black is for mourning and funerals!
CHEVROLET is a positive moniker, so stop fouling it up!
YOU WANT BLACK? Get a tube of touch-up paint at AutoNation, or O’Reilley’s!
Buy Tadarise 40 mg online at the lowest price in the USA to cure erectile dysfunction in men at 100% trusted pharmacy online store. Check Deal!!!!