Generally speaking, automakers want each of its models to achieve a certain level of sales, and will go into emergency mode if it falls short of those expectations. In the case of the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer crossover, General Motors has a quite different challenge to overcome.
The issue with the Chevy Trailblazer is not that people don’t want to buy it – it’s that GM has been struggling to build enough units to satisfy demand. This is confirmed partly by the fact that landed, or on-the-ground, inventory of the vehicle at Chevy dealerships was running at just seven days in the opening week of June 2021, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with the matter. Even if the Trailblazer were sitting on dealer lots for four times as long, it would still suggest insufficient supply.
A related figure from the same period is that demand was running at 190 percent of supply. In other words, dealers sold into inventory slated for sale in the future. This is, in a way, a nice problem for a manufacturer to have, but it’s still a problem.
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 |
The rise in the popularity of the Chevy Trailblazer in the past year has been something to behold. In Q3 of 2020, it placed 14th out of 19 models in the U.S. mainstream subcompact crossovers sales charts. In Q4 of 2020, it jumped to fifth, having graduated from a non-speaking part to a supporting role.
The most recent quarterly sales figures are for Q1 of 2021. During that period, the Trailblazer rose to second place in its segment with sales of 25,024 units, just 1,151 short of the first-place Honda HR-V. That enabled it to become a star in the segment, and our information regarding the supply situation in early June suggests that it will still be a star when the Q2 figures are released – given that supply hasn’t been hindered by production difficulties arising from the global semiconductor shortage. The circumstance has curtailed production of both the Trailblazer and its VSS-F platform mate, the Buick Encore GX, at the GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea.
As GM Authority reported in late May of this year, Bupyeong is returning to full production as microchips become more widely available. GM will undoubtedly be relieved that it will at last be able to build as many Trailblazers as customers desire.
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Comments
But Sa Kia is better……😉
Lol, what’s with the sourness?, mocking the naysayers about the TB.
Brazil and Thailand and others have a much nicer and larger platform. Why did they get the good one and we get junior?
CAFE averages. Take it up with Our Betters In Washington.
Lucky to have purchased one two weeks ago and I love it. I am 6’4” at 235# and fit comfortably in this vehicle. It handles like a sports car and gets great gas mileage at 30+mpg city/highway mix. Very high curb appeal and stance, people come and look at it see what it is and who makes it!
My daughter and son in law love theirs. They live Idaho and the little Trailblazer handles the mountain terrain with fishing and camping while cleaned and shined for date nights in the city. 8 months and no issues.
They did test drive the Kia’s, based my son in law’s research, the maintenance visits doubled more than average. Probably why they have 100k warranty. Issues taken care under warranty are not counted as drive up issues. His thought, he would rather have the vehicle in his garage not Kia’s garage…
Sounds like your daughter wears the pants in that relationship. Trailblazer is GM-SAIC engineered junk with a henco in Mexico motor. Mary Barra went out of her way to make sure the US got absolutely no GM money to design and build this vehicle… And it shows. What a 💩🎁
She’s smarter than you h4ckup… Maybe get on board with the smart people instead of being second class dumb…
Not sure this article is in your wheelhouse and stick with knitting.
and yet they give the real Trailblazer to Thailand and Brazil.https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/08/2021-chevrolet-trailblazer-suv-officially-launches-in-brazil/
It’s a cheap ass Daewoo. I’m still waiting on GM to give us a 2 door, rear wheel drive Monte Carlo that is about the same size as the 1981 to 1988 models and available with the same engines used in the Camaro. Is that too much to ask for?
@L Cooper: WTH are you talking about? Monte Carlo? Camaro? Cheap Daewoo?
Sounds like someone is totally stuck in the 80’s. Don’t get me wrong. I love cars from the 70/80/90’s. But come on, this TB is selling very well and people seem to be liking it (well, other than h4cksaw). Time to move on and stop wishing for a car that nobody wants to buy.
Never happen… save your money and buy a 70 Monte Carlo and restomod it with today’s tech.
Daewoo…lmao… another internet empty opinion.
Suddenly, I’m seeing these new TB’s and Encore GX’s all over out here in Los Angeles area.
Well they certainly make more sense then BEVs. The government should really give incentives on cheap environmentally friendly vehicles like this… Not $40K plus BEVs with a carbon footprint the size of California.
Not seeing a lot of them in New Hampshire. I see a lot of Konas, Hondas, and Mazdas tho. I think there is one Trailblazer in the neighborhood… Parked at the sketchy house.
“The government ” (taxpayers) should stand aside and let the free market determine demand.
Having gov involved, bad idea – worst now…
Trailblazers appearing a lot in the midwest.
Can’t have it both ways, you want adversaries to make more silicon chips then we do?, free market and national security is 2 different things.
i got one of the early oneslast fall and love it ,excelent power for a very small 3 cyl. engine and no complaints about the c.v. trans either . it handles very well also comfortable and tracks very well at expressway speeds .chevy did a great job with this c.u.v