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GMC Savana Sales Lost Three Percent Segment Share During Q3 2021

By Vince Brown

December 13, 2021 6:12 pm

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GMC Savana sales decreased in the United States and Canada during the third quarter of 2021.

GMC Savana Sales - Q3 2021 - United States

In the United States, GMC Savana deliveries totaled 2,215 units in Q3 2021, a decrease of about 54 percent compared to 4,843 units sold in Q3 2020.

In the first nine months of the year, Savana sales increased about 12 percent to 13,506 units.
MODEL Q3 2021 / Q3 2020 Q3 2021 Q3 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
SAVANA -54.26% 2,215 4,843 +12.47% 13,506 12,009

GMC Savana Sales - Q3 2021 - Canada

In Canada, GMC Savana deliveries totaled 329 units in Q3 2021, a decrease of about 74 percent compared to 1,253 units sold in Q3 2020.

In the first nine months of the year, Savana sales decreased about 45 percent to 1,840 units.
MODEL Q3 2021 / Q3 2020 Q3 2021 Q3 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
SAVANA -73.74% 329 1,253 -44.99% 1,840 3,345
  • The Savana is sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. It is not sold in Mexico, where GM only sells its platform mate, the Chevrolet Express.

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

The 54 percent decrease in GMC Savana sales during Q3 2021 represents the biggest decrease in its segment in the U.S. market. Consequently, the Savana finished in fifth place in its competitive set, outsold by cross-town rivals Ford and Ram, plus the Savana’s corporate twin, the Chevy Express.

Sales Numbers - Full-Size Vans - Q3 2021 - United States

MODEL Q3 21 / Q3 20 Q3 21 Q3 20 Q3 21 SHARE Q3 20 SHARE YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
FORD TRANSIT -30.35% 27,086 38,890 40% 44% -15.88% 78,799 93,670
RAM PROMASTER +26.07% 20,168 15,998 30% 18% +46.81% 49,177 33,496
FORD E-SERIES -1.66% 9,132 9,286 13% 11% +5.09% 26,467 25,186
CHEVROLET EXPRESS -51.87% 7,160 14,875 11% 17% -1.62% 36,589 37,190
GMC SAVANA -54.26% 2,215 4,843 3% 6% +12.47% 13,506 12,009
NISSAN NV -48.80% 1,925 3,760 3% 4% +8.88% 11,297 10,376
TOTAL -22.78% 67,686 87,652 +1.84% 215,835 211,927

The Ford Transit continued in first place (see running Ford Transit sales) with a 27,086 sales for a 40 percent segment share, down from 44 percent during the same quarter a year ago. The Ram ProMaster strengthened its second place spot with 20,168 sales for a healthy 30 percent share, up from 18 percent. The Blue Oval’s second entry, the Ford E-Series (see running Ford E-Series sales), took third place with 9,132 deliveries for a 13 percent share. This is in spite of the E-Series being available exclusively in the cutaway configuration.

The Savana aforementioned corporate twin, the Chevy Express (see running Chevrolet Express sales), slipped to fourth place, with 7,160 deliveries for an 11 percent share, down from 17 percent in the year-ago quarter. The GMC Savana (see running GMC Savana sales) remained in fifth with 2,215 deliveries and a slim three percent share, down from six percent year-over-year. The Nissan NV maintained its last place showing with 1,925 deliveries for a similar three percent share. The vehicle will soon be discontinued as Nissan plans to exit the commercial van segment.

Sales Numbers - GM Vans - Q3 2021 - United States

MODEL Q3 21 / Q3 20 Q3 21 Q3 20 YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
CHEVROLET EXPRESS -51.87% 7,160 14,875 -1.62% 36,589 37,190
GMC SAVANA -54.26% 2,215 4,843 +12.47% 13,506 12,009
TOTAL -52.45% 9,375 19,718 +1.82% 50,095 49,199

All models in the full-size van segment except for one posted a decrease in sales volume during the quarter, with the ProMaster being the holdout with a healthy 26 percent bump.

Combined sales of the two GM vans – the Savana and Express – dropped 52 percent to 9,375 units in Q3 2021. By comparison, combined deliveries of the Ford Transit and E-Series decreased nearly 25 percent to 36,218 units. Ford holds a majority segment share of 53 percent, compared to just 14 percent for GM.

Sales Numbers - Ford Vans - Q3 2021 - United States

MODEL Q3 21 / Q3 20 Q3 21 Q3 20 YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
FORD TRANSIT -30.35% 27,086 38,890 -15.88% 78,799 93,670
FORD E-SERIES -1.66% 9,132 9,286 +5.09% 26,467 25,186
TOTAL -24.82% 36,218 48,176 -11.43% 105,266 118,856

The full-size mainstream van segment, which includes passenger, cargo, and cutaway/chassis cab models, contracted nearly 23 percent to 67,686 units in Q3 2021, meaning that Savana sales fell faster than the segment average, faring worse than all entries.

The GM Authority Take

The GMC Savana (along with the Chevy Express) is an old vehicle that traces its roots to the 1990s. In fact, the duo is the oldest model in the segment, and by a wide margin. They’re also the oldest GM vehicles currently in production.

We attribute the drop in 2021 GMC Savana to insufficient inventory at the retail level. As with most GM models, delays in Savana production has caused sub-optimal inventory levels, preventing dealers from fulfilling orders for fleet and commercial customers. The circumstance has resulted in tight supply, which in turn has resulted in a 17 percent jump in GMC Savana ATPs (Average Transaction Prices) to $43,828. Fortunately, the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri resumed production on November 19th, where Cargo, Passenger, and Cutaway versions of the Savana and Express are produced. The Cutaway model is also produced under contract by Navistar at its Springfield plant in Ohio. Sales of GMC’s aging workhorse should rebound after the restart in production.

We expect the current Savana and Express to continue to be sold at least through the 2023 calendar year, and GM has provisions to extend production through 2025, if it deems necessary. Each model year will likely include minor changes, updates, and improvements, which has been the case since the inception of the current models.

In the meantime, several all-new battery-electric models are on the way to replace the two models. First will be the BrightDrop EV600 and BrightDrop EV410. These will be followed by a future electric Chevy commercial van, whose name has yet to be revealed. It’s currently unclear whether GM will offer a GMC version.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GMC Savana sales for Q3 2020, unless noted otherwise
  • In the United States, there were 77 selling days for Q3 2021 and 77 selling days for Q3 2020
  • Sales numbers for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van are not available, since the Mercedes-Benz Vans division does not break out sales by model. Requests to provide the information have continuously been declined.
GM Q3 2021 sales reports:

Express News

All Express News

By Vince Brown

Vince grew up in a GM family, likes manuals, and thinks this is the golden age of the automobile.

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Comments

  1. I think they lost sales because there were none around to purchase, so of course sales would be down. Used vans prices increased a lot. This article is misleading,

    Reply

    1. Driven one? They’re terribly uncompetitive. The sales they have go to loyalists and price considering people.

      But what do I know. My 2013 E250 was replaced with a 2019 Express. The e250 was better in every way except having fewer options, my express is basically loaded which is not common for a cargo van.

      Reply

      1. I had a 2002 Gmc Savana for 12 years, and now a 2014. One thing I say is after 50,000 Miles you start hearing every noise. Also, both vans had front wheel bearings replaced several times.
        The 2002 at 150k head gasket started leaking which caused a misfire, then transmission started to slip at 198K that’s when I picked up the 2014. The 2014 so far wheel bearings 2x and Im at 92k miles.
        I considered switching to Ford just hoping prices level out and they dealers start getting some inventory,

        Reply

  2. We had a few of these at my dads shop as maintenance vehicles. This was about 12 years ago and they were 4-5 years old then. Half ton, awd with the 4.8? V8. They were solid vans, had well over 170k on the three of them. Great in the snow, very reliable. Almost as tough and reliable as the Econlines they had in the 80s with the 300 I6.

    Reply

  3. I know it’s subjective, but the Express/Savana are still the best looking vans.

    Reply

    1. Totally agree. The Transit looks so ughlee I woudn’t be caught dead in one. The Ram look good only from the front. The rest looks like a cheap box.

      Reply

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