Runaway Cable Spool Threatens Cadillac Escalade, Stopped By Chevy Malibu: Video
Luckily, no one was hurt.
Read More »Chevy Malibu sales increased in the United States and Canada but decreased in South Korea during the third quarter of 2022.
| MODEL | Q3 2022 / Q3 2021 | Q3 2022 | Q3 2021 | YTD 2022 / YTD 2021 | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | +7,940.59% | 21,630 | 269 | +148.17% | 79,799 | 32,155 |
| MODEL | Q3 2022 / Q3 2021 | Q3 2022 | Q3 2021 | YTD 2022 / YTD 2021 | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | +1,122.78% | 1,712 | 140 | +174.67% | 3,719 | 1,354 |
| MODEL | Q3 2022 / Q3 2021 | Q3 2022 | Q3 2021 | YTD 2022 / YTD 2021 | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALIBU | -25.61% | 430 | 578 | -44.22% | 1,284 | 2,302 |
Chevy Malibu sales during the third quarter of 2022 places the Bow Tie brand’s only remaining sedan in fourth place in its segment when ranked by sales volume. The Toyota Camry was solidly in first place once again, posting a one percent dip in sales to 78,478 units year-over-year, while the Honda Accord placed second in spite of a 31 percent drop to 30,041 units. The Nissan Altima took third, while posting a solid 103 percent jump to 27,512 units, while the Malibu held fourth with a leap in sales from nearly no sales a year ago, posting 21,630 deliveries this time around.
The Kia K5 took in fifth with an 18 percent slide to 18,251 units, while the Hyundai Sonata placed sixth with a 40 percent drop to 15,643 units. The Subaru Legacy placed seventh with a 16 decrease to 4,824 units. The discontinued Mazda Mazda6 had one delivery and the retired Chrysler 200 had none.
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA CAMRY | -0.78% | 78,478 | 79,098 | 40% | 41% | -16.50% | 214,403 | 256,769 |
| HONDA ACCORD | -30.59% | 30,041 | 43,281 | 15% | 22% | -30.08% | 110,463 | 157,988 |
| NISSAN ALTIMA | +102.62% | 27,512 | 13,578 | 14% | 7% | +40.54% | 106,122 | 75,508 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | +7,940.59% | 21,630 | 269 | 11% | 0% | +148.17% | 79,799 | 32,155 |
| KIA K5 | -18.35% | 18,251 | 22,352 | 9% | 11% | -27.08% | 53,563 | 73,456 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | -40.43% | 15,643 | 26,262 | 8% | 13% | -56.20% | 35,238 | 80,460 |
| SUBARU LEGACY | -16.45% | 4,824 | 5,774 | 2% | 3% | -8.22% | 17,159 | 18,695 |
| MAZDA MAZDA6 | -99.98% | 1 | 4,245 | 0% | 2% | -97.65% | 335 | 14,271 |
| CHRYSLER 200 | -100.00% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 0% | -60.00% | 2 | 5 |
| TOTAL | +0.78% | 196,380 | 194,861 | -13.00% | 617,084 | 709,307 |
From a segment share standpoint, the Malibu held a segment share of 11 percent, up from nothing a year ago. The Camry posted a 40 percent segment share, down one percentage point. The Accord held a 15 percent share, down seven percentage points, while the Altima held a 14 percent share, up seven percentage points. The rest of the pack each posted a single-digit share.
It’s worth noting that the two entries fielded by Hyundai and Kia – the Sonata and K5, respectively – accounted for a cumulative 33,894 deliveries, good for a combined 17 percent segment share. That puts the Korean combo in second place, bumping the Malibu down to fifth. The Camry still outsold the duo by nearly 45K units.
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYUNDAI SONATA | -40.43% | 15,643 | 26,262 | 46% | 54% | -56.20% | 35,238 | 80,460 |
| KIA K5 | -18.35% | 18,251 | 22,352 | 54% | 46% | -27.08% | 53,563 | 73,456 |
| TOTAL | -30.28% | 33,894 | 48,614 | -42.31% | 88,801 | 153,916 |
The midsize mainstream sedan segment grew just one percent to 196,380 units during Q3 2022, meaning Malibu sales solidly outperformed the segment average.
The Chevy Malibu sales performance during third quarter of 2022 saw a segment-skewing 7,941 percent since sales just a year ago were near zero. Meanwhile, Toyota’s venerable Camry continued to dominate the midsize mainstream sedan segment in spite of healthy competition from all comers.
Limited Malibu inventory at the dealer level has continued to negatively impact sales of the model. The numbers confirm that Chevy is able to move units when they are in stock. For instance, the midsize sedan was at 26 days supply at the beginning of October, with 6,549 individual units on the ground at U.S. dealers and an additional 8,184 units in transit. Malibu inventory was at eight days in early May 2022, with 165 units on the ground and 1,069 units in transit, before being at eight days at the beginning of March 2022, with 532 units on the ground and 956 units in transit. A 60-day supply is considered optimal in the U.S. auto industry.
The improvement in supply is the result of GM accepting more new sold orders, processing roughly 20,000 additional orders for the Chevy Malibu this past May to get more units of the sedan to dealers. Production of the four-door was idled for the better part of the 2021 calendar year due to the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage.
The 2022 Chevy Malibu is the seventh model year of the nameplate’s ninth generation, with minor changes that include the deletion of several dealer-installed accessories along with the discontinuation of the base L trim level, making the LS the new entry-level trim.
The 2023 Chevy Malibu ushers in a variety of important changes and updates compared to the preceding 2022 model year. The midsize sedan will no longer offer the Premier trim level nor its turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gasoline engine that powered it along with the GM 9-speed automatic transmission. Going forward, the 2023 Malibu is available exclusively with the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LFV gasoline engine, which mates to the MRG continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This combination was previously offered for all 2022 model-year Chevy Malibu trim levels, with the exception of the Premier. Output is rated at 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
For the 2023 model year, Chevy has repackaged the Premier trim as a new 2LT trim level. As a result, the 2023 Malibu’s top trim now costs $2,000 less than that of the 2022 model. Additionally, two of the Malibu’s dealer-installed convenience packages are no longer available to order.
The Malibu is currently the only Chevy sedan offered in the U.S., as the Bow Tie brand has already discontinued its other sedans, including the Impala, Cruze, and Sonic. Additionally, the subcompact Spark hatchback will be dropped after the 2022 model year. The Malibu itself is expected to hit the chopping block around 2024, continuing GM’s shift toward better-selling trucks, crossovers, and SUVs, along with a heavy focus on EVs.
Fortunately for GM, Chevy sedan owners are moving into crossovers and are not being lost to rivals that still offer sedans. Going forward, the Bow Tie brand is answering the crossover call even more with all-electric models.
In July, the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV finally made its official debut, ushering in the next generation of mass-market electric crossovers from the American brand with an available GM-estimated range of up to 320 miles on a full charge. The Chevy Blazer EV will be available in front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, while the trim level lineup will include 1LT, 2LT, RS, and Blazer EV SS, along with a Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) model for law enforcement – the quickest police package ever offered by Chevy.
The Bow Tie brand is even bringing back a Super Sport model with the first-ever 2024 Chevy Blazer EV SS. A standard performance AWD propulsion configuration delivers up to 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque in the crossover, enabling a zero to 60 mph time of under four seconds in the Wide Open Watts (WOW) acceleration setting. Additional performance-focused features include a specific sport-tuned chassis and Brembo front brakes.
In September, GM CEO Mary Barra debuted the first-ever 2024 Chevy Equinox EV on CBS Mornings after the automaker initially teased the all-electric compact crossover earlier this year. The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV will feature as standard a single Ultium Drive electric motor powering the front wheels, rated at 210 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque. An optional dual-motor eAWD setup will also be offered, rated at 290 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. Launch trim levels will include the 1LT, 2LT and 3LT, along with the sporty 2RS and 3RS.
Meanwhile, sales numbers confirm that U.S. buyers continue to choose the Bow Tie brand’s remaining sedan when it is in stock on dealer lots, even as rivals regularly introduce refreshed and all-new models. Competing automakers still move plenty of sedans, and Chevy continues to offer an answer in the Malibu that sells as fast as GM can make it.
Luckily, no one was hurt.
Read More »Plus, no monthly payments for 90 days.
Read More »Moving opposite to market trends.
With four model years recommended for purchase.
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
Many automakers oppose right-to-repair laws citing cybersecurity concerns.
Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
View Comments
They really should have a very good looking EV sedan ready to go when the Malibu fades away. If that means giving it a minor update and letting it soldier on into 2025 or 2026 then so be it. Rental companies and college kids buy efficient, affordable cars too.