Chevy Utility Vehicle Sales Down 27 Percent To 149,476 Units During Q1 2022
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Chevy utility vehicle sales fell 27 percent to 149,476 units in the United States during the first quarter of 2022.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Utility Sales - Q1 2022 - USA
| MODEL | Q1 22 / Q1 21 | Q1 22 | Q1 21 | Q1 22 SHARE | Q1 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -99.20% | 72 | 9,025 | 0% | 4% |
| CHEVROLET BOLT EUV | * | 286 | * | 0% | 0% |
| CHEVROLET TRAX | -65.79% | 5,801 | 16,955 | 4% | 8% |
| CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | -65.61% | 8,606 | 25,024 | 6% | 12% |
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | -11.36% | 56,036 | 63,218 | 37% | 31% |
| CHEVROLET BLAZER | -2.37% | 18,808 | 19,265 | 13% | 9% |
| CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | -38.31% | 23,464 | 38,037 | 16% | 18% |
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | +4.08% | 23,979 | 23,038 | 16% | 11% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +11.50% | 12,424 | 11,143 | 8% | 5% |
| TOTAL | -27.33% | 149,476 | 205,705 |
Utilities are comprised of both unibody (car-based) crossovers and body-on-frame-based SUVs.
Only the SUVs, Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban, showed sales gains during the month, while the Chevy Equinox compact crossover was the top seller.
Crossovers
Sales of Chevy crossovers fell 34 percent to 113,073 units during Q1 2022. These include the all-electric Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV – sales of which are combined in this report under the Bolt EV line item, as well as those of the Chevy Trax, Chevy Trailblazer, Chevy Equinox, Chevy Blazer, and Chevy Traverse.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Crossover Sales - Q1 2022 - USA
| MODEL | Q1 22 / Q1 21 | Q1 22 | Q1 21 | Q1 22 SHARE | Q1 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -99.20% | 72 | 9,025 | 0% | 5% |
| CHEVROLET BOLT EUV | * | 286 | * | 0% | 0% |
| CHEVROLET TRAX | -65.79% | 5,801 | 16,955 | 5% | 10% |
| CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | -65.61% | 8,606 | 25,024 | 8% | 15% |
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | -11.36% | 56,036 | 63,218 | 50% | 37% |
| CHEVROLET BLAZER | -2.37% | 18,808 | 19,265 | 17% | 11% |
| CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | -38.31% | 23,464 | 38,037 | 21% | 22% |
| TOTAL | -34.08% | 113,073 | 171,524 |
The Equinox was Chevy’s best-selling utility in spite of an 11 percent decrease in sales to 56,036 units. The Equinox could have moved even more units had it not been for production being severely impacted by the ongoing shortages, including but not limited to the global semiconductor microchip shortage. The circumstance has resulted in the idling of three plants that produce the Bow Tie brand’s best-selling crossover for much of 2021. As a reminder, the 2022 Chevy Equinox received a mid-cycle enhancement, or model refresh, representing the fifth model year of the crossover’s third generation, with many changes, updates, and new features across the range.
Among Chevy crossovers, the Traverse placed second in terms of sales volume with a 38 precent decline to 23,464 units. The Traverse nearly placed second among all the Bow Tie brand’s utilities, but was outsold by the full-size Chevy Tahoe SUV by 515 units. Though it’s a unibody crossover, the Traverse is similar in size to the body-on-frame-based Tahoe, with both moving close to the same number of units. For the 2022 model year, the Chevy Traverse received a refresh with various changes inside and out.
The Blazer placed third among Chevy crossovers with just a two percent decrease in sales to 18,808 units. Blazer sales continue to be negatively impacted by low availability and inventory, and production was idled briefly last year due to various ongoing parts and material shortages, headlined by the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage. In February, GM debuted the refreshed 2023 Chevy Blazer. The updated 2023 Chevy Blazer arrives with revised front and rear fascias, new LED headlights and taillights, and a new, larger infotainment display.
The popular Trailblazer was fourth with a 65 percent decline in sales to 8,606 units. The model’s lackluster sales performance is the result of limited supply caused by production disruptions, but GM is working to resolve this. According to GM Authority sources, GM will expand production of the Trailblazer. Additionally, 2023 Chevy Trailblazer production started on April 24th.
Sales of the refreshed 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and its all-new larger sibling, the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV, have been stifled by the now-resolved stop-sale and resulting production stoppage over a battery-related fire risk. Consequently, the models saw the biggest drop in sales to 96 percent moving just 358 units – down from 9,025 deliveries just a year ago. As we mentioned, these issues have since been resolved, and GM is replacing battery packs in owners’ vehicles.
Finally, the subcompact Trax will be discontinued after the 2022 model year. However, GM will replace it with an all-new Trax for the 2023 model year, which GM Authority sources have indicated will take on a coupe-like shape. The phasing out of the current model is the reason that the Trax saw the second-biggest drop in sales volume among Chevy utilities at 65.79 percent to 5,801 units.
SUVs
Sales of Chevy SUVs grew 6.5 percent to 36,403 units during Q1 2022. These include the Chevy Tahoe and its extended-length variant, the Chevy Suburban. As such, Bow Tie brand SUV sales grew while crossover deliveries fell.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Utility Sales - Q1 2022 - USA
| MODEL | Q1 22 / Q1 21 | Q1 22 | Q1 21 | Q1 22 SHARE | Q1 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | +4.08% | 23,979 | 23,038 | 66% | 67% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +11.50% | 12,424 | 11,143 | 34% | 33% |
| TOTAL | +6.50% | 36,403 | 34,181 |
Tahoe sales increased nearly four percent to 23,979 units, recording nearly double the deliveries of the Suburban at 12,424 units. However, Suburban sales grew at 11.5 percent, nearly three times the Tahoe’s rate.
Tahoe and Suburban sales continue to strengthen the Bow Tie brand’s leadership of the mainstream full-size SUV segment, dominating sales during Q1 2022. When combined with their corporate cousins, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, GM controlled three-fourths of the competitive set.
As we’ve noted before, Chevy’s SUVs were overhauled (re-engineered and redesigned) for the 2021 model year as the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and 2021 Chevy Suburban, along with the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV.
The GM Authority Take
The ongoing microchip shortage continues to disrupt production across the GM product portfolio as it allocates more chips toward its bread-and-butter profit-makers – full-size SUVs and pickup trucks which share the same GM T1 platform. Even so, Chevy still sold over three times as many crossovers as SUVs during the first quarter of 2022.
Furthermore, we expect the production situation to improve across-the-board over the next several months, while the model mix will change with introduction of new EV models.
In January, GM teased the first-ever 2024 Chevy Equinox EV alongside other upcoming all-electric vehicles during the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The upcoming Equinox Electric is slated to launch during the 2023 calendar year in both sporty RS and LT trim levels.
GM rendering of upcoming 2024 Chevy Equinox EV RS and LT models
In addition, having reinvented the Blazer for the current generation by migrating from a body-on-frame SUV to a unibody crossover, GM is once again set to reinvent the nameplate, this time leveraging the Blazer brand in conjunction with the upcoming 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, which GM pre-announced in February. A month later, The General released its first teaser clip of its upcoming Chevy Blazer SS – a powerful battery-electric vehicle that will put other performance EV crossovers like the Ford Mustang Mach-E directly in its crosshairs. GM Authority recently spied the future battery-powered Blazer crossover testing in prototype form alongside its internal-combustion-powered counterpart and the Volkswagen ID.4.
Screenshot of GM teaser video of upcoming all-electric Chevy Blazer SS
On a different note, it’s interesting that Traverse and Tahoe sales were similar in volume. The Traverse and Tahoe are also similar in most vehicle dimensions, and the near matching sales numbers seem to indicate that buyers are most likely cross-shopping the two when considering a three-row utility from Chevy. Potential purchasers may not make, or care about, the distinction between platforms and the mechanical differences of crossovers versus SUVs.
While Chevy offers models across its lineup based on size, the similarly sized Traverse and Tahoe may be more a preference of style and price point, though we also recognize that some do indeed also select the Tahoe for its four-wheel-drive prowess, greater off-roading ability (in some trims), and greater towing capacity. The Traverse, by comparison, does not offer most of these characteristics, even in all-wheel-drive form.
GM rendering of upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV RS interior
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Chevy utility sales for Q1 2021, unless noted otherwise
- In the United States, there were 75 selling days for Q1 2022 and 74 selling days for Q1 2021
- GM Q1 2022 sales reports:
- GM Q1 2022 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q1 2022 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q1 2022 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q1 2022 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q1 2022 U.S.A.
- GM Canada sales Q1 2022
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q1 2022
- Cadillac Canada sales Q1 2022
- Buick Canada sales Q1 2022
- GMC Canada sales Q1 2022
- GM Mexico sales Q1 2022
- GM Mexico sales January 2022
- Chevrolet Mexico January 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico January 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico January 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico January 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales February 2022 sales
- Chevrolet Mexico February 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico February 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico February 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico February 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales March 2022
- Chevrolet Mexico March 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico March 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico March 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico March 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales January 2022
- GM China sales Q1 2022
- Chevrolet China Q1 2022 sales
- Buick China Q1 2022 sales
- Cadillac China Q1 2022 sales
- GM Brazil sales Q1 2022
- GM Argentina sales Q1 2022
- GM Chile sales Q1 2022
- GM Colombia sales Q1 2022
- Chevrolet Colombia January 2022 sales
- Chevrolet Colombia February 2022 sales
- Chevrolet Colombia March 2022 sales
- GM South Korea sales Q1 2022
- GM South Korea January 2022 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea January 2022 sales
- Cadillac South Korea January 2022 sales
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- Chevrolet South Korea February 2022 sales
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- GM Russia sales Q1 2022
- GM Russia sales January 2022
- GM Russia sales February 2022
- GM Russia sales March 2022
- GM Q1 2022 sales U.S.A.
The all-new 2024 model of the subcompact crossover went into production only recently. Sales decreased 28 percent to 4,311 units during the first two months of 2023.Sales News
Chevy Trax Sales Jump 267 Percent During Q4 2022
Chevrolet Colombia Sales Down 27 Percent In February 2023
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Many would love to buy a new Tahoe or Traverse…but so few are available…we can’t. The ones that are out there are committed or some dealers are jacking up the price as much as $5,000 over MSRP. I’ve owned GM vehicles for 40 years…but am looking at other brands now.
Don-
Other brands/dealers are doing the same thing. It is very difficult to buy a vehicle at MSRP unless you order it.
Mary Barra should be tar and feathered.
GM had the cruze that got up to 50MPG and the sold the plant which is now in the hands of a competitor.
I think it is already too late to fix all the damage she has done
Because nobody in America wanted a Cruze for profit. Look at your male role models at Ford, not only sales are down, their “made to order” business model is lacking also with certain models and variants unavailable on their “no sedans” strategy. Even H/K sedans ain’t doing too good as the Sonata is gone with K5 potentially leaving too.
GM killed the Cruze in America because it is hard to push people into electric vehicles and away from fossil fuels when a cheap gas sipping car is available.
GM Retired-
Was that the Cruze diesel that nobody bought?
#1 I live in the shadow of Lordstown and no one was buying the Cruze. They said offer it in a hatch yet few sold, they said build a diesel and I would buy. Yet few sold.
Sedans are dead. Chrysler sells no small cars. Ford sells one, Hyundai just killed the Sonata, K5 and Stinger.
Honda is ramping up more CUV models and Toyota Cary sales are not great.
Mary did the right thing.
The real trouble is supply. The lots are empty and it is hard to sell product with no v3hicles.
Look at Subaru. They are out of cars at most dealers so they will be showing a decline too.
Ding ding ding we have a winner. I am just stunned at how many on this site complain about stuff that was discontinued and how they should have kept making them. And these same people never noticed sales were dismal. Do they work for someone besides gm and want to see it go bk again. Makes me wonder. I like coupes, would love it if gm made one again, but I am not dumb and neither is gm. Me and about 1000 other people would buy it. And they would lose a fortune on the engineering so 1000 of us could enjoy a coupe.
Corporatist welcomed regulation is harming the segment.
The most pragmatic new vehicle segment
Limited supply lets OEMs cater to the greater fools of their customers.
Does Mary make product decisions or not?
Someone decided to ship NE Ohio a bunch of Mexican Cruzes, with the gen 2. Same with seemed like any hatch.
The gen 2 styling was way off, with a flimsy interior, with wastefully dumb trim and option organization. Gen 1 sold well the whole run.
The green mafia went after diesel.
Anyone making excuses for this should be ashamed of themselves.
GM wants to run these vehicles on sale but one small fact remains, none of the dealers have any, so why bother. I’m not going to spend over $40,000 on something I can’t see.
Not hard to believe that only the Tahoe and Suburban increased their sales….there were NO Traverses available in our area. None, zero, zit! Not hard to understand though. GM placed their chips in the most profitable units. I’ve been a loyal GM owner for years, but I do not understand their business model anymore. Not one Chevrolet in our garage at this point.
So may bemoan all of the crossovers and the disappearance of the sedan.
Okay, it’d be nice to see stylish sedans and the like again, but, the market has spoken. The Cruze is cited above by many, and other sedans are dying off. Camry sales off, etc.
The simple matter is that Mr. and Mrs/Miss America have found it easier to get groceries into the back of a hatch than in a high-lift-over trunk lip. Baby seats are easier to fit when you aren’t bent over double due to low roof lines. The crossovers are generally easier on entry and exit.
Fine. They may not look like much, but, they do the same job, better, in 2021 than a friend of mine’s mom’s ’53 Chevy 4-door did back in the day. It’s easier to work with than the ’57 Plymouth wagon another mom had, and getting 4 kids into a crossover for going to Cub Scouts is easier with an Equinox or Escape than it was with that ’58 Chrysler two door hard top the den mother had.
Times change, and so do how cars are used, and perceived. The two door coupe and sports sedan crowd still have VW, Audi, Lexus, and some others. As for affordability, you wait for one to come off lease and pay $0.40 on the dollar or less for it.
The costs incurred with the Chevy Tahoe if purchased today, the price is still increasing. Compared to other brands, it’s also reduced a lot but I think this is not the right time to buy because the prices of many products such as gasoline are inflationary.