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Chevy Traverse Sales Place Mid-Pack During Q4 2021

By Vince Brown

January 28, 2022 6:41 pm

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Chevy Traverse sales decreased in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Russia while increasing in South Korea during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 22,052 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 47 percent compared to 41,534 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales decreased about 7 percent to 116,250 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE -46.91% 22,052 41,534 -7.40% 116,250 125,546

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 404 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 67 percent compared to 1,212 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales decreased about 12 percent to 4,704 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE -66.67% 404 1,212 -11.56% 4,704 5,319

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - South Korea

In South Korea, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 935 units in Q4 2021, an increase of about 7 percent compared to 871 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales decreased about 14 percent to 3,483 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE +7.35% 935 871 -13.68% 3,483 4,035

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - Mexico

In Mexico, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 81 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 44 percent compared to 144 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales decreased about 13 percent to 374 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE -43.75% 81 144 -13.02% 374 430

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - Russia

In Russia, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 13 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 50 percent compared to 26 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales were flat at 0 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE -50.00% 13 26 * 0 0

Chevrolet Traverse Sales - Q4 2021 - Colombia

In Colombia, Chevrolet Traverse deliveries totaled 7 units in Q4 2021.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Traverse sales totaled 172 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
TRAVERSE * 7 * * 172 0

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Chevy Traverse sales during the fourth quarter of 2021 posted the biggest percent decrease in sales volume in the mainstream large three-row crossover segment, falling 47 percent to 22,052 units to take sixth place out of 11 rivals.

In first place was the Ford Explorer (see Ford Explorer sales) which posted a 10 percent decrease in sales to 59,697 units. The Toyota Highlander took second, posting a 20 percent decrease to 56,564 units. The Honda Pilot followed in third with a 16 percent decrease to 28,395 units, with the Kia Telluride in fourth with a 19 percent decrease in sales to 22,981. The Volkswagen Atlas (see VW Atlas sales) took fifth place with a 27 percent decrease in sales to 22,872 units, followed by the Traverse in sixth by only 820 units behind the Atlas and 929 units behind the Telluride.

The only models to post an uptick in sales in the group were the Dodge Durango with a modest 5 percent bump to 13,004 units as well as the all-new Nissan Pathfinder with a 238 percent leap to 12,439 units. Despite the gains, both models finished near the bottom of the segment.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Large Three-Row Crossovers - Q4 2021 - United States

MODEL Q4 21 / Q4 20 Q4 21 Q4 20 Q4 21 SHARE Q4 20 SHARE YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
FORD EXPLORER -9.56% 59,697 66,008 21% 20% -2.81% 219,871 226,217
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER -20.30% 56,564 70,975 20% 21% +24.43% 264,128 212,276
HONDA PILOT -16.02% 28,395 33,811 10% 10% +15.55% 143,062 123,813
KIA TELLURIDE -19.40% 22,981 28,514 8% 9% +24.73% 93,705 75,129
VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS -27.26% 22,872 31,445 8% 9% +32.42% 115,687 87,362
CHEVROLET TRAVERSE -46.91% 22,052 41,534 8% 12% -7.40% 116,250 125,546
HYUNDAI PALISADE -0.96% 21,866 22,078 8% 7% +4.69% 86,539 82,661
SUBARU ASCENT -4.78% 16,937 17,788 6% 5% -11.30% 59,980 67,623
DODGE DURANGO +5.11% 13,004 12,372 5% 4% +14.02% 65,935 57,828
NISSAN PATHFINDER +237.59% 12,439 3,685 4% 1% -14.93% 41,324 48,579
MAZDA CX-9 -21.20% 5,694 7,226 2% 2% +24.80% 34,493 27,638
TOTAL -15.78% 282,501 335,436 +9.37% 1,240,974 1,134,672

From a segment share standpoint, Traverse fell 4 percentage points to 8 percent in Q4 2021, again posting the biggest decrease in the segment. The Explorer posted a 21 segment share, gaining a percentage point, followed closely by Highlander with a 20 percent segment share, down a percentage point, while the Pilot maintained a 10 percent segment share. Like the Traverse, the Telluride and Atlas each posted an 8 percent segment share, both down a percentage point.

For informational and comparative purposes we also provide sales figures for crossover models that overlap with large crossovers like the Traverse – either in price or seating capacity. These crossovers, which are generally smaller than the Traverse, are often cross-shopped with larger models like the Traverse, and include:

  • Midsize crossovers that offer three rows of seating, such as the GMC Acadia (see GMC Acadia sales), Kia Sorento, and Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • Midsize crossovers with two rows of seating sold at a similar price point to the Traverse, including Nissan Murano, Ford Edge, GM’s own Chevy Blazer, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
  • Midsize and full-size crossover models that are sold under the same name, but whose sales are not broken out by their respective automaker, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Jeep parent company, Stallantis, does not individually report sales figures of the two-row Grand Cherokee vs. that of the three-row Grand Cherokee L since launching the overhauled 2022 model.

Sales Numbers - Overlapping Crossover Sales - Q4 2021 - United States

MODEL Q4 21 / Q4 20 Q4 21 Q4 20 YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE +31.42% 74,816 56,930 +26.05% 264,444 209,786
FORD EDGE -5.46% 30,274 32,024 -21.73% 85,225 108,886
HYUNDAI SANTA FE -26.11% 22,415 30,337 +11.23% 112,071 100,757
CHEVROLET BLAZER -14.01% 19,986 23,243 -25.66% 70,325 94,599
KIA SORENTO +37.68% 19,530 14,185 +9.52% 81,785 74,677
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER +243.96% 12,606 3,665 +24.88% 33,883 27,132
NISSAN MURANO +52.96% 6,830 4,465 -20.84% 46,117 58,255
GMC ACADIA -80.19% 4,234 21,378 -17.40% 59,913 72,537

The large, mainstream three-row crossover segment contracted 16 percent to 282,501 units in Q4 2021, meaning Chevy Traverse sales significantly underperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

Sales of the Chevy Traverse continue to suffer as a result of inventory shortages resulting from production delays. Extremely low supply of the Chevy Traverse is caused by the GM Lansing Delta Township plant initially being shut down on July 19th due to the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage that is expected to remain well into 2022. A restart in Traverse production continued to be pushed back, with the changeover to the 2022 model year taking place the week of October 25th after yet another delay. All of those roadblocks led to the subpar performance in Q4 2021.

To make matters worse, Traverse production was idled again on January 3rd, likely resulting in a negative impact to Traverse sales during Q1 2022.

As a reminder, GM initially planned to refresh the Traverse for the 2021 model year, but delayed the launch due to complications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently the automaker shifted the launch of its refreshed 2022 Chevy Traverse to the fall of 2021.

Besides production delays, sales of the updated Traverse will continue to be impacted by increased competition from new entries such as the all-new fifth-generation Nissan Pathfinder along with the still-new Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer, and Toyota Highlander. Additionally, Ford last year announced the 2021 Ford Explorer Timberline as an off-road-oriented variant of its storied Explorer, giving a master class on how to turn a road-going crossover into a capable trail rig. Chevy’s answer could come in the form of a Traverse Activ model as its own rugged, active lifestyle utility vehicle, but that may be wishful thinking for this generation.

Just a year ago the Bow Tie brand’s full-size crossover took third place in this lucrative segment, with nearly twice as many deliveries at 41,534. Simply put, getting production back to full swing will be key to the Traverse retaking the podium.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Chevy Traverse sales for Q4 2020, unless noted otherwise
  • In the United States, there were 78 selling days in Q4 2021 and 79 selling days in Q4 2020
  • For Explorer sales figures are comprised of the Ford Explorer and its police-duty variant, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. In previous quarters, Police Interceptor Utility sales were reported as a separate line item, but Ford is now folding its sales into the Explorer line item.
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee sales consist of the two-row Grand Cherokee and that of the three-row Grand Cherokee L.
GM Q4 2021 sales reports:

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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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