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GM Authority

GM Car Sales Fell 39 Percent To 239,000 Units In 2020

Sales of General Motors cars fell by 39 percent in the United States during the complete 2020 calendar year, down to 238,703 units from the 338,821 units sold in 2019. This was the worst performance in any vehicle sector for GM, and contrasted significantly with the 12 percent downturn in GM utility vehicle sales.

GM Car Sales - United States - 2020 Calendar Year

MODEL YTD 20 / YTD 19 YTD 20 YTD 19 YTD 20 SHARE YTD 19 SHARE
CHEVROLET MALIBU -22.19% 102,651 131,917 43% 34%
CHEVROLET SPARK +7.02% 33,478 31,281 14% 8%
CHEVROLET CAMARO -38.31% 29,775 48,265 12% 12%
CHEVROLET CORVETTE +20.22% 21,626 17,988 9% 5%
CADILLAC CT5 +34,111.63% 14,711 43 6% 0%
CHEVROLET SONIC -6.90% 13,007 13,971 5% 4%
CHEVROLET IMPALA -77.90% 9,942 44,978 4% 12%
CADILLAC CT4 * 4,889 0 2% 0%
CADILLAC CT6 -60.80% 3,117 7,951 1% 2%
BUICK REGAL -76.03% 2,484 10,363 1% 3%
CADILLAC XTS -89.39% 1,199 11,304 1% 3%
CHEVROLET CRUZE -98.37% 784 47,975 0% 12%
CADILLAC CTS -91.23% 611 6,965 0% 2%
BUICK LACROSSE -96.82% 230 7,241 0% 2%
CADILLAC ATS -89.77% 116 1,134 0% 0%
CHEVROLET VOLT -98.55% 71 4,910 0% 1%
BUICK CASCADA -99.53% 12 2,535 0% 1%
TOTAL -38.61% 238,703 388,821

The drop in car sales was predictable, given the complications arising from the global COVID-19 pandemic. Most GM plants were shut down for two months or longer, and this was followed by a slow return to previous production levels. In addition, customers had less access than normal to dealerships as a result of the virus.

However, there was another major factor: several GM car models were discontinued during or even before 2020. These include the Chevy Cruze, Chevy Volt, Chevy Impala and Chevy Sonic. GM announced back in November of 2018 that production of the Cruze, Volt and Impala would come to an end, and in July of 2019 that the same would happen to the Sonic. The last Cruze rolled off the line in March 2019, the final Impala was built in February 2020, and Sonic production ended in October 2020.

The Sonic and Impala remained on sale into 2021, but only as run-out models. The only Chevrolet sedan still being built is the Chevy Malibu, and it can not be coincidental that this was by far GM’s best-selling car in 2020. At 102,651 units, it accounted for 43 percent of GM car sales. The Chevy Spark – which, in its most basic form, is the cheapest car available in the United States – was a very distant second on 33,478 units.

Remarkably, the Chevy Camaro and Chevy Corvette were GM’s third- and fourth-most popular cars, with sales of 29,775 and 21,626 respectively. Camaro sales dropped by 38 percent compared with 2019, while Corvette sales were boosted by the arrival of the mid-engined 2021 Corvette C8. Even so, the Camaro still sold in greater numbers – something that’s only natural given the fact that it’s more affordable than the Vette.

The discontinued Chevy Sonic fared reasonably well, with a drop in sales of just seven percent to 13,007 units. Fifth on a list of 17 cars, it was the last model to record over 10,000 deliveries.

Two models didn’t make it to 100 units. The Chevy Volt and the Buick Cascada convertible. Both were long out of production in 2020, recording just 71 and 12 sales respectively.

The Corvette and Spark were the only GM cars that were available during the complete 2019 calendar year and that achieved growth in 2020. Sales of the Cadillac CT5 luxury sedan grew by a spectacular 34,111 percent, but this was because it went on sale very late in 2019. Only 43 examples found customers before the year was out, compared with 4,889 in 2020. However, the growth of the CT5 and the introduction of the Cadillac CT4 have yet to balance the drop in sales realized by discontinuing the Cadillac ATS, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac CTS and Cadillac XTS.

As The General continues to prioritize utility vehicles over sedans, it is unlikely that GM car sales will ever recover to previous levels. The Malibu, Spark, Camaro, Corvette, plus the Cadillac luxury sedans will not achieve that on their own, and there are no future cars in the pipeline to replace the ones which have been discontinued.

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GM 2020 sales reports:
  • GM 2020 sales U.S.A.
    • Chevrolet sales 2020 U.S.A.
    • Cadillac sales 2020 U.S.A.
    • Buick sales 2020 U.S.A.
    • GMC sales  2020 U.S.A.
  • GM Canada sales 2020
    • Chevrolet Canada sales 2020
    • Cadillac Canada sales 2020
    • Buick Canada sales 2020
    • GMC Canada sales 2020
  • GM China sales 2020
    • Chevrolet China 2020 sales
    • Buick China 2020 sales
    • Cadillac China 2020 sales
  • GM Brazil sales 2020
  • GM Argentina sales 2020
  • GM South Korea sales 2020
    • Chevrolet South Korea 2020 sales
    • Cadillac South Korea 2020 sales
  • GM Russia sales 2020

David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

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Comments

  1. It may be worse this year with shotages of Computer Chips. Dealers here in Ohio look like they are going out of business. Some chevy dealers have little to no trucks. They have some blazers, equinoxes and trail blazers inventories but not many. Computer Chips aren’t the only problem, plastic for parts is also in short supply. A friend of mine who supplies plastic parts to honda shut down for a few weeks and its also causing Honda to shutdown. If your in the composite industry good luck. Resin is in short supply because of the cold spell in Texas.

    Reply
  2. What a joke of an article, the huge decrease in sales is because you literally can’t buy them…. They don’t make most of those models anymore. Even if they are “technically” still in production they’re impossible to find…🤣

    Toyota sold 22k Corollas last month, gm only sold 20k bolts all last year.

    Clearly there’s a demand for sedans and entry level cars, but if gm wants to pretend there isn’t I guess that’s their prerogative. Not a decision process I’d have much confidence in.

    Reply
    1. You might want to take another look at the second, third and fourth paragraphs.

      Reply
      1. So, I guess I kind of summarized the whole article in like 1 or 2 sentences?

        Reply
        1. no, you misrepresented what the article said in 1 or 2 sentences.

          Reply
    2. 2020 U.S. car sales
      Toyota down 20%
      Honda down 22%
      Nissan down 39%
      Corolla 237,000
      1. Car sales are falling even at the Big Japanese Automakers.
      2. February is not a particularly good month for vehicle sales. Corolla sales beating last years monthly average indicates a large number went to rental fleets.

      Reply
      1. Toyota has had to resort to fleet sales to move sedans the last few years.

        Reply
  3. Drove my buddies Kia Stinger GT1 RWD yesterday. As much as I like GM, there is nothing in their portfolio that can compete with that car brand appropriate. There is not Chevy Sedan that can rival this particular Kia. Chevy’s car line-up is lame and looks like it was designed with rental companies in mind. American car companies are just making excuses for not being competitive. There are plenty of people who still want sedans. A very hard sell convincing someone to go for a Malibu or impala when the imports are so much more attractive.

    Very shortsighted thinking at Ford and GM. If GM wants to gain a stronger foothold worldwide, they must make competitive cars.

    Reply
    1. “da Kia is better”

      Reply
      1. Yea, usually when you respond in TB post……

        Also GM does have a Stinger competitor, the CT4.
        OTOH I do want a rwd Chevy sedan that goes against the worlds best since all the family losers went to CUVs.

        Reply
    2. Kia sold 12556 stingers in 2020. Why should Chevy build a competing model to the Stinger?

      Waste of time and money for GM despite what you think.

      Reply
    3. For the past 50 years, this has been said, repeatedly, over and over. Management(ownership) does NOT listen, never did, never will.

      Reply
    4. I drove a coworker’s Stinger and felt bad for them. They paid way too much for that cheap rattle trap. Cheap paint, cheap plastics, too many rattles, horrible resale value.

      Reply
  4. A part of me wishes that the car segment would experience a large increase in demand, leaving GM and Ford behind in the dust.

    Reply
    1. Fortunately these soaring gas prices will do just that.
      The fools running over themselves for trucks & SUVs can enjoy having their wallets bleed in agony.

      Reply
    2. I wish that as well.

      Reply
    3. I doubt it will be some massive shift. It’s more likely we’ll just continue to see more of the same, with market share slipping until nobody notices the old brands aren’t around anymore.

      Reply
  5. It’s easy to say sales are falling… but 11 out of 17 models of the chart were discontinued. Three of the remaining (CT4, CT5 and Corvette) are all new and are performing GREAT. One of them is a low-volume supermini (Spark), the other (Malibu) isn’t competitive anymore: needs an overhaul because is outdated and cheap. And the Camaro, well, that face…

    Reply
  6. Before it is said and done the sedan at all companies will be a rare item.

    We will be left with some low volume luxury or performance sedans. maybe a coupe or two and the sports cars.

    People are tired of the small FWD sedans that are cramped and can’t haul much. This is a trend that will continue on a decline and take even the top models in the segment vanishing are being reimagined.

    I have a Malibu now and find it often lacking in utility and the ability to carry much. I just bought a new TV system and only the Bluray would fit in the car with out rebooting. the TV would not fit more would the sound system without unboxing.

    A few of the imports who sell cars in small markets may keep a few small cars around but that is about it. They will have to rely on global markets to survive.

    Reply
  7. GM has small cars in brazil and other countries which can easily be made to become US compliant with safety tech. Thing is trucks and utility vehicles will keep selling. What you will see if gas keeps going up is a stalled economy except in the industries they can work remotely.

    Reply
    1. If the Biden administration wants to tax by the mile? We won’t need EV’s either.

      Reply
      1. Still need to meet tougher emissions.

        Reply
    2. Think this is the plan. GM makes a profit in small cars where small cars sell. The big truck utilities are the money makers in America.

      Reply
  8. It’s sad GM screwed themselves, not everyone wants a SUV .
    I bought My last 2018 impala as there are no larger cars available – 😢

    Reply
  9. C8R, the sedans will not be a rare item, nither now with ICE nor in the future with electric / hydrogen.
    Why some think that EVERYBODY in the world wishes or aspires to own an SUV? A big mistake.
    Do you think BMW made a mistake when they just brought to market their new 3 series? It is a world car (or global as some say).
    Corolla. A sedan sold in 130+ countries and with no fear to bring a hatchback in its 12th generation.
    Audi A3, A4, A5, A6 and A8. New facelifts and evolution of them coming. Think the CT4 Blackwing bragging? Try an RS3 and you will see what a real sedan is.
    Mercedes has all kind of sedans, in series and sizes.
    Who does not wish to have a Panamera? That is the sedan of the sedans.
    And all these companies have sevral sedans in their Electrified future.
    But the story goes again: what if the world gets caught in a steep increase in gas prices? who will win and who will loose?

    Reply
  10. Visiting a GM dealer these days is a sad pathetic joke. Other than a row of Equinoxes, a handful of oddly configured trucks and the random Buick frumpmobile there is little to look at anymore. Quite a 360 from just 10 short years ago when they made something for everybody.

    Reply
  11. The future of American car makers is not good.I worked on and serviced imports in the last 60s and 70s when imports were just cheap cars.These companies that import now have some of the best on our roads today.These have caused most of our debt in the USA.These Companies are now building them here in the USA.We have to steam line our Companies from the top earners because this is where the money goes.Now that we are building Factories in many Countries these people could not care less.To bad we have lost our Independence and I know whats next.I see it in the News everyday.It will not be taken care of by our presidents or representatives because they are bought by these Comapnies.The fall of the USA is coming.

    Reply
  12. The chip shortage and the corona pandemic are bad for the business of all retailers. That’s why I see a decline, but customers want more and more SUVs and pickups instead of cars. The manufacturers react to the interest of the customers and reduce the car models. In addition, one must not forget that bad roads are better suited for pickups and SUVs. Hence the customer behavior. Most customers also believe that these large vehicles offer more safety than cars.
    With the electric cars, the vehicles are getting 1000 pounds heavier and are a danger to small cars.
    I also note that many countries outside the USA keep the cars alive as sedans and station wagons with government subsidies so that they can then roll over the countries that no longer offer cars if necessary. Think of the past in the USA! It can be like that again soon and you have to be prepared for that.

    Reply

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