Automakers around the world are feeling the effects of the limited supply of microchips, but the shortage does not affect every model currently in production. One vehicle which has escaped the problem is the Chevy Trax crossover.
The 2021 Chevy Trax is now built exclusively at the GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea, after production at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico ended (and replaced by the Chevy Tracker). GM Authority has learned that chips suitable for the Trax remain in plentiful supply, so General Motors can theoretically build as many units as it likes.
The problem is that The General doesn’t want to build as many as it used to. GM planned to reduce Trax production by 30 percent this year, and devote the resulting capacity to manufacturing the more modern – and already very popular – Chevy Trailblazer. This is unlikely to be achieved any time soon, since the Trailblazer is one of the models affected by the global chip shortage.
As a result of GM’s plans to curtail Trax production in favor of the Trailblazer, the Trax fell to eighth position in the U.S. mainstream subcompact crossovers market segment during Q1 2021. Previously, in Q4 of 2020, it had been placed second, a position now occupied by the Trailblazer.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2021 - United States
| MODEL | Q1 21 / Q1 20 | Q1 21 | Q1 20 | Q1 21 SHARE | Q1 20 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HONDA HR-V | +34.83% | 26,175 | 19,414 | 10% | 9% |
| CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | +834,033.00% | 25,024 | 3 | 9% | 0% |
| NISSAN KICKS | +74.82% | 24,421 | 13,969 | 9% | 7% |
| HYUNDAI KONA | +49.00% | 22,610 | 15,174 | 8% | 7% |
| JEEP COMPASS | -33.07% | 19,959 | 29,820 | 7% | 14% |
| BUICK ENCORE GX | +608.77% | 18,435 | 2,601 | 7% | 1% |
| KIA SOUL | +2.86% | 17,191 | 16,713 | 6% | 8% |
| CHEVROLET TRAX | -39.97% | 16,955 | 28,242 | 6% | 13% |
| KIA SELTOS | +232.26% | 16,786 | 5,052 | 6% | 2% |
| JEEP RENEGADE | +12.94% | 15,997 | 14,164 | 6% | 7% |
| MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT | +22.10% | 15,356 | 12,577 | 6% | 6% |
| MAZDA CX-30 | +74.43% | 14,589 | 8,364 | 5% | 4% |
| FORD ECOSPORT | -0.35% | 12,878 | 12,923 | 5% | 6% |
| TOYOTA C-HR | +0.28% | 10,401 | 10,372 | 4% | 5% |
| BUICK ENCORE | -56.25% | 6,229 | 14,238 | 2% | 7% |
| HYUNDAI VENUE | +82.69% | 5,784 | 3,166 | 2% | 1% |
| KIA NIRO | -13.35% | 4,311 | 4,975 | 2% | 2% |
| MAZDA CX-3 | -40.71% | 1,513 | 2,552 | 1% | 1% |
| FIAT 500X | -6.36% | 265 | 283 | 0% | 0% |
| TOTAL | +28.09% | 274,879 | 214,602 |
Nevertheless, the Trax is still performing well for a vehicle that is one of the oldest in its segment, and whose manufacturer is limiting its supply. Trax sales were well over half those of the segment-leading Honda HR-V, and ahead of the Kia Seltos, Jeep Renegade and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Since GM currently has no problem building the Trax, there’s a chance that it will come up higher in the sales rankings for Q2 of 2021.
GM Authority has also learned that landed, or on-the-ground, inventory of the Trax at Chevrolet dealerships was sitting at 30 days at the end of April. This is the third highest figure of any Chevy model, but it is also well under the 60 days considered optimal in the U.S. auto industry, suggesting that there is still strong demand for the aging vehicle.
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Comments
You might as well have something to put on the lot,most almost look like there out of business.
Ok, so why is this? I certainly am not an expert in this and only really know what I do know from our Volvo and Mazda reps as well as what I read. So my question is why do they have enough chips for this Trax but not the Trailblazer?
Also, does this same thing then apply to the Encore/Encore GX? If yes, GM would be smart to pound out as many of the Trax and Encore as they can to at least have something on lots and to sell.
Shot in the dark. Could it be that the Trax is not as technologically advanced and therefore doesn’t need as many semiconductor chips?
That sounds logical. I’d think the story would have elaborated on that.
Funny. The very vehicle, that everyone who thinks they know something, loves to hate. Oh poor much maligned Chevy Trax.
GM should give the Trax a second US generation. You may hear it’s a low value car and everything, but the buyer of a Trax today could buy an Equinox next time. And where is GM production capacity if it can’t build at the same time 2 vehicles people would like to buy??
Wrong information!! GMK plants for both vehicles and its suppliers are the most severely impacted by cheap shortage in Korea from the beginning of this year, now almost idling, according to local news reports.
typical short sightedness.. put out stock otherwise dealers have nothing to sell.
Cheap fabric and dim lights sell
With them putting the New 1.4t in these which is more powerful and better mileage it will be a decent vehicle. It might be older but if you need a car it will work for now.
the LE2 is a nice motor. I’d take the LE2 Trax over the Shanghai 1.3t in the Trailblazer any day.
Was by my dealer today for service LOF + rotation for ’18 EQ. The cupboard is bare…
New inventory was down to nothing.
Showroom looked weirder than usual. As the usual in past years has been mostly trucks, a Traverse, and some corvettes.
Today there were 2 Corvettes, a vintage restored 1971 pickup, and a current M-B sedan. If the sales manager was around I would have asked – why?? very sad.
Not a Trax in sight.
Gm sucks! They sell blue trax’s with paint that peels and they don’t do a damn thing about it. Trying to say normal wear and tear. PAINT DOESN’T JUST START PEELING ON A NEW VEHICLE!
My question is: What’s the story behind the chip shortage? Is there only one supplier? Is the design proprietary? Are other sources or new designs being considered, perhaps domestic sources? This is not just GM; -Ford is in the same situation; hostage to a semiconductor! I cannot believe that the two biggest U.S. companies in the automobile business have been brought to their knees by a supply chain problem. Component criticality should have been part of the design & development. No such issues for Toyota or VW. Why is that?
So the main sources of the chips are in taiwan and china. Japan has one but it had a fire recently. All the manufactures are starting to see the hit. Some have more stock currently but its getting hard on them now too. A friends wife just bought a Rav4 and the dealer said build it online and bring to us we will see if we can find one.
The computer chips in cars are not a big money maker for the chip manufactures as it is for Computers. New plants are being built in the US but won’t be fully online until 2023. These plants are not cheap to open or run.
With the new administration raising tax on corporations many will still seek parts outside the US. Plus with covid the raw material for chips has been low, and with high demand they just can’t keep up currently. I read the plants making chips usually run at about 80% capacity but now are at 100% and running 24/7 to catch up.
Bought my Trax 2 week days ago ..So far I’m pleased with it .Does get great fuel mileage..I negotiated a good price at dealership..The Trax works for me currently