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Chevy Malibu Sales Take Fifth Place In Segment During Q3 2020

Chevy Malibu sales during the third quarter of 2020 decreased in all markets tracked by GM Authority, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea.

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q3 2020 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 25,455 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 22 percent compared to 32,432 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 25 percent to 73,399 units.
MODEL Q3 2020 / Q3 2019 Q3 2020 Q3 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2019
MALIBU -21.51% 25,455 32,432 -24.80% 73,399 97,603

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q3 2020 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 838 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 51 percent compared to 1,724 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 51 percent to 2,279 units.
MODEL Q3 2020 / Q3 2019 Q3 2020 Q3 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2019
MALIBU -51.39% 838 1,724 -51.24% 2,279 4,674

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q3 2020 - South Korea

In South Korea, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 1,139 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 57 percent compared to 2,625 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 48 percent to 4,889 units.
MODEL Q3 2020 / Q3 2019 Q3 2020 Q3 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2019
MALIBU -56.61% 1,139 2,625 -48.41% 4,889 9,476

Chevrolet Malibu Sales - Q3 2020 - Mexico

In Mexico, Chevrolet Malibu deliveries totaled 0 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 100 percent compared to 13 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Malibu sales decreased about 96 percent to 5 units.
MODEL Q3 2020 / Q3 2019 Q3 2020 Q3 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2019
MALIBU -100.00% 0 13 -96.43% 5 140

Competitive Sales Comparison

Chevy Malibu sales placed fifth out of a total of ten rivals during Q3 2020. The midsize Chevrolet sedan was outsold by the Toyota Camry in first place, Honda Accord in second, the recently-discontinued Ford Fusion in third (see Ford Fusion sales), and the Nissan Altima in fourth. The Malibu outsold the remaining five models – the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat (see VW Passat sales), and Mazda6 (see Mazda6 sales).

Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Sedans - 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
TOYOTA CAMRY -8.44% 75,489 82,448 28% 24% -20.70% 204,945 258,456
HONDA ACCORD -24.65% 56,537 75,028 21% 22% -28.94% 145,291 204,463
FORD FUSION -22.14% 29,243 37,557 11% 11% -32.29% 90,664 133,908
NISSAN ALTIMA -45.24% 28,033 51,192 11% 15% -39.31% 97,082 159,969
CHEVROLET MALIBU -21.51% 25,455 32,432 10% 10% -24.80% 73,399 97,603
HYUNDAI SONATA +7.54% 22,837 21,236 9% 6% -22.29% 53,126 68,368
KIA OPTIMA -63.19% 9,276 25,197 4% 7% -36.43% 48,101 75,666
SUBARU LEGACY -7.04% 8,135 8,751 3% 3% -23.46% 20,036 26,177
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT +302.18% 6,089 1,514 2% 0% +24.83% 16,190 12,970
MAZDA MAZDA6 -7.84% 3,880 4,210 1% 1% -30.78% 11,965 17,285
CHRYSLER 200 -60.06% 4 10 0% 0% -84.44% 7 45
TOTAL -21.97% 264,978 339,575 -27.88% 760,806 1,054,910

From a segment share standpoint, the Camry led the segment with 28 percent, up four percentage points year-over-year. The Accord had 21 percent, down 1 percent, Fusion held steady with 11 percent, and Altima fell 4 percentage points to 11 percent. The Malibu had a 10 percent segment share, equal to that in the year-ago quarter. All other rivals held less than 10 percent share.

The midsize mainstream sedan segment contracted an average of 22 percent to 264,978 units in Q3 2020, meaning that the 21.51 percent drop in Chevy Malibu sales was in line with the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

After posting quite a healthy performance during the first quarter of 2020 followed by a rather pitiful second quarter, Chevy Malibu sales rebounded to place the midsize sedan in fifth place in the segment. We attribute the Malibu’s recovery in Q3 to significantly improved “on the ground” inventory at the dealer level, which was substantially depleted by the COVID-19 shutdown during Q2.

The Malibu is currently the only Chevrolet sedan offered in the United States. Other Chevy sedans like the Cruze, Volt, and Impala have already been discontinued, while the Chevy Sonic will not see the 2021 model year. For its part, the Malibu is expected to be sunset at the end of its lifecycle in 2024.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Malibu sales in Q3 2019, except if noted
  • There were 77 selling days for Q3 2020 and 76 selling days for Q3 2019
  • South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
  • China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Malibu newsChevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

GM Q3 2020 sales reports:
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Comments

  1. Since Chevy is pushing sports cars and trucks the Malibu should reflect what buyers want in an American sedan. A Charger-sized VSS-R sedan should be the next ‘Bu while the Onix and/or Monza should get all the budget sedan buyers.

    Reply
  2. Yea? If GM invested like the Koreans and Japanese makes, it would be doing better. But better than last I guess…

    Reply
    1. Malibu isn’t a bad car. This is probably why GM sedans thrive in China and why Honda will be moving Civic and Accord, among other products, over to GM platforms in the US.
      Malibu lacks an exciting design and interior styling is a bore but Toyota isn’t exactly sexy, either. I drove Malibu as a rental and it was quiet, handled far better than Fusion or Sonata, and nice for a long road trip. After Accord and Mazda 6 it would probably be my choice anyday.

      Reply
    2. Isn’t Malibu designed by Korean ?

      Reply
      1. Huh?

        Reply
  3. So when is Ford supposed to stop making the Fusion? It feels like it’s been at least 2 years since they made the announcement about its demise.

    Reply
  4. I have to be honest, I LOVE the Kia advert directed towards the big 3, “…others (GM, Ford, Chrysler) walked away from sedans. We turbocharged ahead”.

    I’m not a truck or SUV fan, I’m a car guy. So whenever my 2018 Buick Regal Sportback GS needs replacing I’m not going to look at any of the SUV or trucks by GM, I’m not then likely going to be looking at Korea.

    Reply
    1. TBH Cadillac did their homework on pricing on the CT4/CT5. You can get a 2.7/AWD CT4 or a rwd 3.0t CT5 for less than $50k, an less capable Regal would cost more.

      Reply
  5. It’s absolutely bonehead stupid for Gm to dump this car. It’s a darn nice family car for it’s market segment and can easily be made one of the best on the road for it’s market. Much the same could be said for the Cruze also. So they won’t make a ton of money on each car like BMW does, but isn’t half a ton enough? Short sighted nitwits. That’s a large market segment they are giving away, and people are going to tire of SUV,s sooner or later and where are they going to go to buy sedans?

    Reply
    1. People will not tire of the utility and sight advantage that SUVs provide.

      Reply
      1. Yes, just like the station wagon and mini van were once gangbusters so will the CUV/SUV die off, too.
        The automakers wanted to kill the sedan as MSRP is higher for a jacked up compact hatch like Encore or a wannabe wagon like Equinox.

        Reply
    2. “where are they going to go buy sedans”
      My guess is the used car lot. I believe a number of GM’s recently retired models will see resale values start to rise. Namely: Chevy SS, Impala, Volt; Buick Regal; Lacrosse(last gen) Cadillac ATS & CT6.

      Reply
  6. @Jerry Serwalt:

    Did you even look at the chart?

    Reply
    1. What do you think I missed? By the way, I’ve owned 2 SUV’s and a lot of sedans. Don’t tell me which is more pleasant to drive.

      Reply
  7. Yes, just like the station wagon and mini van were once gangbusters so will the CUV/SUV die off, too.
    The automakers wanted to kill the sedan as MSRP is higher for a jacked up compact hatch like Encore or a wannabe wagon like Equinox.

    Reply
    1. This where you’re incorrect, wagons died because minivans were better people movers and the CUV took the minivan’s spot. No family is crunching themselves in a sedan anytime soon.

      Reply
      1. @Guestt: Although I mostly agree and see your point, you missed one huge thing. SUV/CUV’s do NOT move people as well as the mini-van does. Period. There is nothing on the market that can move people and “stuff” as efficiently as the van/mini-van. Most SUV/CUV’s are just higher sitting squared off sedans or wagons.

        Reply
        1. Dan, The only advantage a SUV has is that easily accessible area behind the rear seat. That’s nice 3 or 4 times a year, but the rest of the time you’re driving a vehicle that is trying to be a “jack of all things” and isn’t great at any of them. A reasonably quality sedan (Malibu level) with folding rear seats is a heck of a lot better all around vehicle and a lot better looking, if that means anything to you, it does to me.

          Reply
  8. Mazda 6 is EXTREMELY UNDERRATED vehicle. So much more fun to drive than most of the vehicles on this list, not to mention quality built

    Reply
    1. Nick: I sell the Mazda’s. You are wrong there. The Mazda 6 does a lot of things well, but the reliability and quality are not there. Lot’s of stupid/cheap stuff goes bad after a few years and their infotainment system sucks.

      Reply
  9. We had a 2011 malibu lt which was traded in for a 2018 equinox. ‘Bu was a nice vehicle but wife wanted an EQ.
    Would consider another Maliibu as long as it avoids using a CVT
    People will tire of the whole cuv trend and chevy needs to keep the sedan alive.

    5th place in YTD sales is OK and should be profitable as Fairfax plant is shared with a caddy model. XT4 I think.

    Reply
  10. Surprised to see the Fusion that high. Never surprised with the Camry spot though.

    Reply
  11. YTD total for this segment only: 760,000+ and still have November/December to report. And who says this market is dead? And as you can all see, the majority of that 760,000+ is made up from 6 sedans.

    Please GM: I understand the market is “now” for SUV/CUV’s, but don’t abandon this market. In fact, reinforce the Malibu and give Buick another Regal based on this same platform. Build them here and between those two and the two Cadillac’s, you will still have a place in the sedan market for when it comes back.

    Reply
  12. I got a 2016 Malibu and I love it! No problems at all and love the turbo! The massive refreshed grille and CVT turn me off from getting the current one. Would consider a next gen if it happens, depending on what they produce. Otherwise I might look for a used Regal!

    Reply
  13. GM should be ashamed that a Hyundai sonata is ranked higher than the Malibu, but since GM doesn’t care about the sedan customer, why am I complaining?

    Reply
    1. Fernando
      The Malibu is up by 20,000 sales. Maybe Hyundai should give GMA $3 million and demand a partial recount.

      Reply

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