Chevy Trax Sales Fall To Second Place In Segment During Q3 2020

by Francisco Cruz
— Nov 24, 2020

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q3 2020 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 29,485 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 21 percent compared to 37,407 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Trax sales decreased about 4 percent to 80,193 units.

MODEL	Q3 2020 / Q3 2019	Q3 2020	Q3 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
TRAX	-21.18%	29,485	37,407	-4.28%	80,193	83,777

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q3 2020 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 1,304 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 39 percent compared to 2,154 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Trax sales decreased about 18 percent to 3,050 units.

MODEL	Q3 2020 / Q3 2019	Q3 2020	Q3 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
TRAX	-39.46%	1,304	2,154	-18.19%	3,050	3,728

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q3 2020 - South Korea

In South Korea, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 1,273 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 56 percent compared to 2,913 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Trax sales decreased about 45 percent to 5,051 units.

MODEL	Q3 2020 / Q3 2019	Q3 2020	Q3 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
TRAX	-56.30%	1,273	2,913	-44.77%	5,051	9,146

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q3 2020 - Mexico

In Mexico, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 2,047 units in Q3 2020, a decrease of about 42 percent compared to 3,531 units sold in Q3 2019.

In the first nine months of the year, Trax sales decreased about 40 percent to 6,019 units.

MODEL	Q3 2020 / Q3 2019	Q3 2020	Q3 2019	YTD 2020 / YTD 2019	YTD 2020	YTD 2019
TRAX	-42.03%	2,047	3,531	-39.86%	6,019	10,009

Competitive Sales Comparison

Chevy Trax sales performance during the third quarter of 2020 places the crossover in second place in its segment, falling behind the Jeep Compass by a mere 103 units. That said, the Trax managed to outsell the Honda HR-V, which netted 24,904 sales in Q3.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact 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 COMPASS	-15.84%	29,588	35,158	11%	14%	-29.69%	77,809	110,671
CHEVROLET TRAX	-21.18%	29,485	37,407	11%	15%	-4.28%	80,193	83,777
HONDA HR-V	-0.92%	24,904	25,135	9%	10%	-12.11%	61,799	70,314
HYUNDAI KONA	+22.15%	22,046	18,049	8%	7%	-4.22%	52,813	55,138
KIA SOUL	-3.42%	21,290	22,044	8%	9%	-28.72%	55,331	77,627
NISSAN KICKS	+9.36%	19,478	17,811	7%	7%	-9.42%	42,640	47,074
JEEP RENEGADE	-10.70%	18,961	21,234	7%	9%	-19.99%	45,820	57,270
FORD ECOSPORT	+4.76%	17,045	16,271	6%	7%	-6.82%	47,200	50,657
BUICK ENCORE GX	*	16,019	*	6%	0%	*	27,876	0
KIA SELTOS	*	15,431	*	6%	0%	*	29,509	0
TOYOTA C-HR	-1.41%	11,797	11,966	4%	5%	-11.05%	33,604	37,777
BUICK ENCORE	-55.44%	11,143	25,008	4%	10%	-52.08%	35,414	73,905
MAZDA CX-30	*	10,837	*	4%	0%	*	27,793	0
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER	*	10,322	*	4%	0%	*	17,024	0
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT	+4.57%	7,719	7,382	3%	3%	-6.29%	24,504	26,150
KIA NIRO	-17.28%	4,980	6,020	2%	2%	-26.33%	13,232	17,962
HYUNDAI VENUE	*	4,793	*	2%	0%	*	11,964	0
MAZDA CX-3	-54.86%	2,255	4,996	1%	2%	-40.48%	7,012	11,780
FIAT 500X	-23.65%	452	592	0%	0%	-45.57%	1,130	2,076
TOTAL	+11.83%	278,545	249,073			-4.09%	692,667	722,178

On a segment share basis, the Trax accounted for 11 percent, same as the Compass. The HR-V reported 9 percent and the Kona and Soul reported 8 percent each. All other rivals held a segment share of less than 8 percent.

Sales Numbers - FCA Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q3 2020 - USA

MODEL	Q3 20 / Q3 19	Q3 20	Q3 19	YTD 20 / YTD 19	YTD 20	YTD 19
JEEP COMPASS	-15.84%	29,588	35,158	-29.69%	77,809	110,671
JEEP RENEGADE	-10.70%	18,961	21,234	-19.99%	45,820	57,270
FIAT 500X	-23.65%	452	592	-45.57%	1,130	2,076
TOTAL	-14.01%	49,001	56,984	-26.62%	124,759	170,017

GM’s cross-town rival, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which will soon be known as Stellantis, fields three offerings in this segment – the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. The trio accounted for 49,001 deliveries during the quarter.

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q3 2020 - USA

MODEL	Q3 20 / Q3 19	Q3 20	Q3 19	YTD 20 / YTD 19	YTD 20	YTD 19
CHEVROLET TRAX	-21.18%	29,485	37,407	-4.28%	80,193	83,777
BUICK ENCORE GX	*	16,019	*	*	27,876	0
BUICK ENCORE	-55.44%	11,143	25,008	-52.08%	35,414	73,905
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER	*	10,322	*	*	17,024	0
TOTAL	+7.30%	66,969	62,415	+1.79%	160,507	157,682

Meanwhile, the four GM offerings – the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore, as well as their all-new cousins – the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX – accounted for a cumulative 66,969 deliveries. As such, GM outsold FCA by nearly 18,000 units in the segment, marking the fifth time that The General sold more units than FCA since the introduction of the second-generation Jeep Compass. GM held a combined 25 percent segment share to FCA’s 18 percent.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q3 2020 - USA

MODEL	Q3 20 / Q3 19	Q3 20	Q3 19	YTD 20 / YTD 19	YTD 20	YTD 19
HYUNDAI KONA	+22.15%	22,046	18,049	-4.22%	52,813	55,138
KIA SOUL	-3.42%	21,290	22,044	-28.72%	55,331	77,627
KIA SELTOS	*	15,431	*	*	29,509	0
KIA NIRO	-17.28%	4,980	6,020	-26.33%	13,232	17,962
HYUNDAI VENUE	*	4,793	*	*	11,964	0
TOTAL	+48.63%	68,540	46,113	+8.04%	162,849	150,727

Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 68,540 units of their five offerings in the segment, nearly 2,000 units more than GM. Notably, the Hyundai Kona was the only model to outpace the segment, reporting a 22 percent increase in sales volume.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (excluding Soul) - Q3 2020 - USA

MODEL	Q3 20 / Q3 19	Q3 20	Q3 19	YTD 20 / YTD 19	YTD 20	YTD 19
HYUNDAI KONA	+22.15%	22,046	18,049	-4.22%	52,813	55,138
KIA SELTOS	*	15,431	*	*	29,509	0
KIA NIRO	-17.28%	4,980	6,020	-26.33%	13,232	17,962
HYUNDAI VENUE	*	4,793	*	*	11,964	0
TOTAL	+96.31%	47,250	24,069	+47.08%	107,518	73,100

However, it’s worth mentioning that the Kia Soul could be considered to be part of a smaller A-segment. Removing the Soul from the Hyundai and Kia sales totals leaves the Korean duo with 47,250 units, or about 20k units less than GM.

The mainstream subcompact crossover segment expanded 12 percent to 278,545 units during Q3 2020, meaning the Chevy Trax underperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

The 21 percent decline in Chevy Trax sales during the third quarter of 2020 is not exactly unexpected, since it now is facing internal competition from the all-new Chevy Trailblazer. But despite the decline in Trax sales volume, the vehicle still managed to maintain a substantial leadership position in the segment.

In the second quarter of 2020, the Trax managed to post a 3 percent growth rate, defying the COVID-19 pandemic to become the only model in the segment to post a sales uptick. We suspected that the Q2 increase was caused by a greater supply of the model at the retail level, as the GM Bupeyong plant in South Korea was somewhat shielded from production interruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico – which also produces the Trax – saw a greater disruption due to the virus.

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer joins the Trax in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment

We remain curious how Chevy Trax sales will fare in the near- and medium-term, given that it’s now being sold alongside a much newer and more attractive stable mate – the Trailblazer. It’s possible that Trax sales will drop off as Trailblazer takes Trax customers. It’s worth noting that Trailblazer sales are red hot, with the vehicle turning at a very rapid pace and exceeding sales expectations.

About The Numbers

All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Trax sales in Q3 2019
In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q3 2020 and 76 selling days in Q3 2019
South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales

GM Q3 2020 sales reports: