GMC Savana sales increased in the United States while decreasing in Canada during the second quarter of 2021.
| MODEL | Q2 2021 / Q2 2020 | Q2 2021 | Q2 2020 | YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 | YTD 2021 | YTD 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAVANA | +82.44% | 5,444 | 2,984 | +57.56% | 11,291 | 7,166 |
| MODEL | Q2 2021 / Q2 2020 | Q2 2021 | Q2 2020 | YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 | YTD 2021 | YTD 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAVANA | -21.31% | 635 | 807 | -27.77% | 1,511 | 2,092 |
Despite the 82 percent increase in GMC Savana sales, the full-size van line remained in fifth place in its segment. Leading the space, and by a wide margin, was the Ford Transit in first place (see running Ford Transit sales), followed by the Ram ProMaster in second, the aforementioned Chevy Express (see running Chevrolet Express sales) in third, Ford E-Series (see running Ford E-Series sales) in fourth (the model is available exclusively as a cutaway), and the GMC Savana in fifth. The GMC Savana outsold the last-place Nissan NV, which will be discontinued in the near future, by a mere 146 units. Notably, every model in the segment posted an increase in sales during the quarter, with the Ram ProMaster posting the largest increase of 129 percent.
| MODEL | Q2 21 / Q2 20 | Q2 21 | Q2 20 | Q2 21 SHARE | Q2 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD TRANSIT | +35.21% | 24,262 | 17,944 | 33% | 39% | -5.60% | 51,713 | 54,780 |
| RAM PROMASTER | +129.10% | 18,129 | 7,913 | 25% | 17% | +65.78% | 29,009 | 17,498 |
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | +39.37% | 12,552 | 9,006 | 17% | 19% | +31.88% | 29,429 | 22,315 |
| FORD E-SERIES | +16.55% | 6,762 | 5,802 | 9% | 12% | +9.03% | 17,335 | 15,900 |
| GMC SAVANA | +82.44% | 5,444 | 2,984 | 8% | 6% | +57.56% | 11,291 | 7,166 |
| NISSAN NV | +83.45% | 5,298 | 2,888 | 7% | 6% | +41.66% | 9,372 | 6,616 |
| TOTAL | +55.68% | 72,447 | 46,537 | +19.21% | 148,149 | 124,275 |
On a segment share basis, the Transit accounted for a segment-leading 33 percent, followed by the Ram ProMaster with 25 percent. The Express claimed 17 percent, E-Series took 9 percent, while the Savana and NV accounted for 8 and 7 percent, respectively.
Sales of the Savana’s corporate twin, the Chevrolet Express, grew 39 percent. Notably, the Express sold over two times as many units as the Savana during the second quarter. GM’s two offerings – the Chevy Express and GMC Savana – saw combined deliveries of 17,996 units for a combined 25 percent share.
| MODEL | Q2 21 / Q2 20 | Q2 21 | Q2 20 | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | +39.37% | 12,552 | 9,006 | +31.88% | 29,429 | 22,315 |
| GMC SAVANA | +82.44% | 5,444 | 2,984 | +57.56% | 11,291 | 7,166 |
| TOTAL | +50.09% | 17,996 | 11,990 | +38.12% | 40,720 | 29,481 |
By comparison, combined deliveries of the Ford Transit and E-Series totaled 31,024 units, accounted for a 42 percent segment share during the quarter.
| MODEL | Q2 21 / Q2 20 | Q2 21 | Q2 20 | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD TRANSIT | +35.21% | 24,262 | 17,944 | -5.60% | 51,713 | 54,780 |
| FORD E-SERIES | +16.55% | 6,762 | 5,802 | +9.03% | 17,335 | 15,900 |
| TOTAL | +30.65% | 31,024 | 23,746 | -2.31% | 69,048 | 70,680 |
The full-size mainstream van segment, which includes passenger, cargo, and cutaway/chassis cab models, expanded nearly 56 percent to 72,447 units in Q2 2021, meaning that Savana sales during the quarter significantly outperformed the segment average.
The GMC Savana and Chevy Express are old vehicles that trace their roots to the 1990s. In fact, the duo is the oldest vehicle in the segment, and by a wide margin. They’re also the oldest GM vehicles currently in production. And while every model in the segment experienced growth, the Savana and Express saw greater gains during the quarter than their Ford rivals.
In other words, the Savana and Express duo continue to perform relatively well in the marketplace, holding their own in the segment. The two vans have a strong reputation for being hard-working, trustworthy and reliable. Further helping the Savana (and Express) are well-established offerings from upfitters that prepare or modify the van for various commercial-purpose duties. The accessible purchase price and low operating cost is another factor responsible for the ongoing success of the Savana/Express duo.
Additionally, the introduction of the 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel LWN engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (M5U), introduced for the 2017 model year, has generated increased interest in the product. The Savana then received several improvements for the 2021 model year, headlined by the replacement of the archaic Vortec 6.0L V8 L96 engine (and its LC8 gaseous variant) with GM’s new 6.6L V8 L8T motor. For the 2022 model year, the Savana will get several minor changes, which we will outline soon.
As far as we know, GM plans to produce the Savana and Express in their current forms until at least 2023, as GM Authority was first to exclusively report. That timeline could be extended, if GM sees the need to do so. Meanwhile, an indirect replacement for the Express and Savana is part of GM’s future electric vehicle plans and will come at least in the form of the BrightDrop EV600, and potentially in the BrightDrop ERLV. Additionally, GM will also offer an electric Chevy commercial van. Whether GMC will offer a similar product is currently unclear.
No special finance or lease incentives available either. Savana News
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Ca-CHING. These must be very profitable.
It's ancient. It probably uses few if any micro chips. The costs of all the bits that go into it were paid off and amortized long ago.
Like the Stellanis 300/ Charger/Challenger triplets. All the guts dating from the last century. "Time and Materials" only.
Yes, and, that commonality keeps the fleet buyers coming back for more, be they trucks for, say, ServiceMaster, RotoRooter, or for airport limo operators.
The drivers know them. Park\ts are cheap and as common as sand on the beach. Mechanics known them inside and out; know all the quirks and tricks.
Not that easy. One is parts obsolescence. The fabs don't have the volume to keep and maintain the equipment around for the older chip processes, so you're forced to redesign things with newer chips. (That's part of the problem with the chip shortage today: automotive chips are using a 10-year old process that the tech industry moved away from, so the fabs didn't prioritize it)
Second is regulatory. They had to add features like rearview camera, forward anti-collision braking, emissions diagnostics, immobilizers, TPMS, cybersecurity, and others had to be retrofit, which means redesigns.
Funny how that works, when consumers ask for bigger engines in a work van, gm finally puts more cubes in one, and guess what people buy them. Maybe gm should take advice from consumers more often. Pull the old plans for late 70s Era trucks again, build 100k, I bet they sale in a day flat! Not sure why it hasn't already been done. I'd rather see this than the electric stuff any day. Love my chevys!
I only wish they didn't eliminate the transmission cooler.
That's because GM gave up on the market which cared about fuel economy. Those companies took worker's full-size vans away and gave them Ford Transit Connects, Ram ProMaster City, and Nissan NV200s.
I wouldn't be caught dead in an ughlee Ford Transit, and the Promaster is, of all things, a front wheel drive. Only choice is a GMC or Chevy van.
I own an irrigation company and I love the 6 vans I have. Ive got 3 2017 chevy express and 3 2020 gmc savana vans and they have been great.
I owned an early 80's GMC van. Don't know where it came from but it was used for 6- day delivery schedule of stop and go with lots of wet stuff in it for nearly 10 years.
Neither the engine nor the body failed me with thousands of stops, traffic, freeway, etc. Amazing! Fell in love with it.
What’s this now? I thought they weren’t building any vans. Dealer says I’ll be lucky to get one next year. And I ordered months ago. If GM allocated more units to Canada maybe I’d actually get my order picked up.