Muscle Car Sales Up 23 Percent During Q3 2022
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Having already covered how Chevy Camaro sales performed during the third quarter of 2022, we’re now taking a look at how the muscle car segment as a whole performed during the same timeframe.
Sales Numbers - Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - USA
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE CHARGER | +24.78% | 24,201 | 19,395 | 41% | 41% | +1.89% | 62,660 | 61,498 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +17.28% | 16,412 | 13,994 | 28% | 29% | -4.64% | 42,094 | 44,142 |
| FORD MUSTANG | +13.59% | 10,354 | 9,115 | 18% | 19% | -10.88% | 36,598 | 41,065 |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | +52.26% | 7,922 | 5,203 | 13% | 11% | +27.13% | 19,177 | 15,084 |
| TOTAL | +23.44% | 58,889 | 47,707 | -0.78% | 160,529 | 161,789 |
Muscle car sales showed healthy growth during Q3 2022 in the United States, recording 58,889 deliveries for a 23 percent growth year-over-year and over 4,500 units more than what was sold during the same timeframe in Q2 2022.
The Dodge Charger continued to reign as the best-selling model in the segment, and the only four-door entry here, posting 24,201 deliveries for a 25 percent increase year-over-year. The Dodge Challenger, its two-door brother, took second place with 16,412 deliveries, up 17 percent. The Ford Mustang (see running Mustang sales numbers) placed third, moving 10,354 units for a 14 percent growth and the Chevy Camaro (see running Camaro sales) took the last spot again with 7,922 deliveries but a segment-leading 52 percent jump in sales.
From a segment share standpoint, the Charger maintained a 41 percent share year-over-year, followed by the Challenger with a 28 percent segment share, down one percentage point. The Mustang posted an 18 percent share, also down one percentage point, while the Camaro was the only model to gain segment share at 13 percent, up two percentage points.
Sales Numbers - Dodge Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - USA
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE CHARGER | +24.78% | 24,201 | 19,395 | 60% | 58% | +1.89% | 62,660 | 61,498 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +17.28% | 16,412 | 13,994 | 40% | 42% | -4.64% | 42,094 | 44,142 |
| TOTAL | +21.64% | 40,613 | 33,389 | -0.84% | 104,754 | 105,640 |
It’s worth noting that the two Dodge muscle cars accounted for a cumulative 40,613 deliveries, accounting for a dominating 69 percent of the segment.
Sales Numbers - Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - Canada
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD MUSTANG | +9.81% | 1,231 | 1,121 | 49% | 59% | -14.10% | 3,247 | 3,780 |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | +62.05% | 457 | 282 | 18% | 15% | +17.83% | 1,051 | 892 |
| DODGE CHARGER | +80.09% | 416 | 231 | 17% | 12% | +80.60% | 2,756 | 1,526 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +49.81% | 412 | 275 | 16% | 14% | +21.72% | 1,614 | 1,326 |
| TOTAL | +31.79% | 2,516 | 1,909 | +15.20% | 8,668 | 7,524 |
In Canada, muscle car sales grew an even healthier 32 percent to 2,516 units. However, the order placement tells a drastically different story than the U.S., with the Mustang taking the top spot, followed by the Camaro in second, and the Charger and Challenger, respectively, bringing up the rear.
From a segment share standpoint, the Mustang earned 49 percent share, down an even 10 percentage points, while the Camaro held an 18 percent segment share, up three percentage points. The Charger posted a 17 percent share, up five percentage points, and the Challenger held a 16 percent share, up two percentage points.
Sales Numbers - Dodge Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - Canada
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE CHARGER | +80.09% | 416 | 231 | 50% | 46% | +80.60% | 2,756 | 1,526 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +49.81% | 412 | 275 | 50% | 54% | +21.72% | 1,614 | 1,326 |
| TOTAL | +63.63% | 828 | 506 | +53.23% | 4,370 | 2,852 |
The two Dodge models accounted for 828 deliveries and a 33 percent segment share, putting the duo ahead of the Camaro.
Sales Numbers - Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - Mexico
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE CHARGER | -47.99% | 298 | 573 | 53% | 74% | -12.40% | 982 | 1,121 |
| FORD MUSTANG | +18.18% | 169 | 143 | 30% | 18% | +11.90% | 564 | 504 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +22.92% | 59 | 48 | 11% | 6% | -4.74% | 201 | 211 |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | +128.57% | 32 | 14 | 6% | 2% | -31.58% | 52 | 76 |
| TOTAL | -28.28% | 558 | 778 | -5.91% | 1,799 | 1,912 |
In Mexico, muscle car sales slipped 28 percent to 558 units. The rankings change again here compared to the U.S. and Canada, with the Charger taking top honors, the Mustang in second, the Challenger in third, and the Camaro claiming fourth. The Charger was the only model in any market to show a drop in sales, sliding 48 percent.
From a segment share standpoint, the Charger still held a dominating 53 percent share, though down a hefty 21 percentage points, while the Mustang posted a 30 percent segment share, up a healthy 12 percentage points. The Challenger held an 11 percent share, up five percentage points, followed by the Camaro with a six percent share, up four percentage points.
Sales Numbers - Dodge Muscle Cars - Q3 2022 - Mexico
| MODEL | Q3 22 / Q3 21 | Q3 22 | Q3 21 | Q3 22 SHARE | Q3 21 SHARE | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DODGE CHARGER | -47.99% | 298 | 573 | 83% | 92% | -12.40% | 982 | 1,121 |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | +22.92% | 59 | 48 | 17% | 8% | -4.74% | 201 | 211 |
| TOTAL | -42.51% | 357 | 621 | -11.19% | 1,183 | 1,332 |
The two Dodge models saw a cumulative 43 percent drop to 357 units. Even so, they still commanded 64 percent of the space.
The GM Authority Take
While muscle car sales were healthy during the third quarter of 2022, the migration toward other vehicle types (like crossovers, pickups and SUVs) as well as electric vehicles continues, especially as automakers introduce increasingly more models in all segments. Boosting this trend is the irony that EVs tend to have higher levels of performance than their ICE counterparts. However, the Detroit Big Three have plans to keep the muscle car alive, even with all-electric models.
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept
In July of last year, Stellantis teased an electric Dodge muscle car planned for 2024, with a Dodge spokesperson at that time saying it wouldn’t sell “electric cars,” but “American eMuscle.” Just last month, Stellantis finally unveiled the new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, priming the official debut of the company’s first all-electric muscle car. But this one is a two-door coupe iteration and not a four-door sedan currently being sold under the Charger nameplate, making it more of an EV replacement for the Challenger than the Charger.
Dodge also announced a tiered power system with nine possible powertrain output levels for the all-electric Dodge Charger muscle car concept, including a 400-volt system with a base-level of 455 horsepower, upgradeable to 495 horsepower, 535 horsepower, 590 horsepower, 630 horsepower, and 670 horsepower. Dodge also teased an 800-volt SRT Banshee powertrain package capable of producing much, much more.
Additionally, Dodge garnered some attendee impressions for tuning of the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust at SEMA 2022, billed as the world’s first BEV exhaust system, and set to add in one of the most commonly cited missing ingredients of a performance EV model.
“We can’t share a lot about it but it essentially uses a transducer and takes a ton of inputs from the powertrain from the driver. It uses the transducer to make the air ways make the sound. That’s why we call it an exhaust, because it’s an accessory that we can tune,” Kevin Hellman, Dodge muscle car product lead, explained to GM Authority at SEMA 2022.
2024 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
In September, The Blue Oval revealed the next-generation 2024 Ford Mustang. Though it uses the outgoing Mustang’s general architecture, it will likely be the last Mustang with an internal combustion engine. The new model takes some design cues inside and out from the all-electric Mustang Mach-E such as an all-digital information screen and similarly crimped versions of the ‘Stang’s signature three-lens taillights.
Regarding GM, the sixth-gen Chevy Camaro is on its last legs, currently slated to be sunset in 2023, though its discontinuation timeframe is a moving target. Whenever the sun will set on the Camaro, the final model year of the Camaro will receive a commemorative heritage special edition.
However, GM may be moving to leverage the Chevy Camaro name for a new EV sub-brand. According to preliminary reports, The General will leverage the Chevy Camaro name to create a new Camaro sub-brand “umbrella” offering a variety of all-electric models in multiple segments. Among these will be relatively familiar offerings in the form of a new coupe and convertible model with a 2+2 seating arrangement, as one might expect from the Camaro, albeit with an electric powertrain. Furthermore, GM could also offer a few new Camaro SUVs (crossovers) as well. The new all-electric Chevy Camaro SUV models will have a decidedly sporty flavor to them, and will offer both two-door and four-door body styles. Ford has already done some of this with the aforementioned ICE-based Mustang coupe and convertible and all-electric Mustang Mach-E four-door crossover, opening the door to a Mustang sub-brand. In fact, the Mach-E could gain a coupe variant in the medium-term future in conjunction with the next-generation model.
Finally, the new all-electric Chevy Camaro sub-brand will also offer a mid-price flagship sports car, which could be loosely tied to the ninth-generation C9 Corvette in terms of architecture but not appearance.
2022 Chevy Camaro SS – Indy 500 Festival Cars
The vaunted Camaro has lost its luster since returning as a modern iteration of the original for the 2010 model year. The model that resurrected the Camaro, the fifth-generation, sold like hotcakes, but its sixth-gen successor – introduced for the 2016 model year – simply had too many things go wrong in order to succeed.
In addition, GM Authority has previously reported that a possible electric version of the Camaro may be in the works. There is also the rumor that the legendary nameplate might continue as an electric performance sedan, which would be very much in line with GM’s move toward an all-electric future. That said, the electric Camaro sedan could likely end up being a new all-electric Corvette sedan or an electric Corvette crossover, as GM is expected to launch a new Corvette sub-brand as well.
There are plenty of options available GM to bring renewed success to the Bow Tie brand’s mainstream performance models, both the Camaro and Corvette, to compete in an all-electric future.
2024 Chevy Blazer EV SS
GM has already debuted an upcoming model to that end. In July, the automaker unveiled the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, including the 557-horsepower 2024 Chevy Blazer EV SS. The first EV from Chevy to wear the SS badge, the upcoming Blazer EV SS is a performance crossover that the automaker proclaims has the “soul of a true sports car” and capabilities that “will surprise and delight” diehard Bow Tie brand fans.
The Blazer EV SS features “design and engineering developed to live up to the legacy of the iconic Super Sport performance designation” that it wears on its exterior. 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. Other performance-focused features include a specific sport-tuned chassis and Brembo front brakes.
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing – Track
On other fronts, GM has invested in ICE-powered performance cars outside the muscle car segment. The General’s 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing luxury super sedans are more than capable of going head-to-head with the high(est) performance variants of the Charger, while delivering substantially more refinement, allowing them to compete on the world stage.
2024 Chevy C8 Corvette E-Ray – Visualizer Leak
Additionally, Chevy’s track-focused 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 features the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated V8, and it’s only the beginning of the C8 Corvette story. That’s because even more potent C8 variants are on the way like the C8 E-Ray, C8 ZR1, and C8 Zora are all on the way, and while an all-electric replacement for the C8 is coming, it will only arrive much later than anything else mentioned here.
During the GM Investor Day event held last month, GM President Mark Reuss confirmed that the automaker is cooking up two new high-performance models, which we know to be the C8 Corvette ZR1 and C8 Corvette Zora.
With regard to the upcoming C8 Corvette ZR1, Reuss said that “as C8 was designed as an early architecture, we keep stepping it up, so this will again set the standard of the world for performance for Chevrolet, and I couldn’t be more excited for that.”
The C8 Corvette ZR1 is set to be a highly capable all-round performer offering ultra-high-performance for both the road and the track. Making this possible will be the new twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 gasoline engine, which will arrive as a boosted variant of the LT6 that motivates the current C8 Corvette Z06. Output from the new ZR1 is expected to peak at 850 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque.
2023 Chevy C8 Corvette Z06 naturally aspirated V8 LT6 gasoline engine
Meanwhile, with regard to the upcoming C8 Corvette Zora, Reuss teased that “the next version of the C8 at the very top of the line [would be] something you won’t be able to imagine from a performance standpoint,” adding, “we’ll put the world on notice with this car. It’s our platform of excellence.”
The C8 Corvette Zora will stand out thanks to its twin-turbo, hybrid V8 powerplant and all-wheel-drive system, similar to the forthcoming C8 Corvette E-Ray. Output from the Zora, however, is expected to surpass 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque.
The C8 Corvette E-Ray, meanwhile, will feature an electrified powertrain mated to the naturally aspirated LT2 from the C8 Stingray with an electric drive unit mounted up front, providing impressive all-wheel-drive grip. GM Authority brought you exclusive video of the upcoming C8 Corvette E-Ray putting in some hot laps at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany in July. Back in April, GM teased the C8 Corvette E-Ray in a video showcasing the traction available from its all-wheel-drive setup, something never before offered on “America’s sports car.” At that time, Reuss also confirmed that GM plans to offer a “fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future.” Though it’s unclear which model Reuss is referring to specifically, it can either be the aforementioned Corvette EV sedan, Corvette EV SUV, or the eventual successor to the C8.
Just this month, images leaked from the 2024 Corvette E-Ray visualizer show exterior and interior photos.
2024 Chevy C8 Corvette E-Ray – Nurburgring racetrack
GM continues to offer high-performance models, with new ICE models, two Corvette hybrids, and a whole slew of EV models in the pipeline. The biggest push is for Chevy, keeping its offerings top-of-mind as The General’s mainstream performance brand.
The next three years should prove quite interesting in the muscle and performance car spaces as some of the models mentioned above begin to hit the market and all-electric offerings begin to take charge.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to muscle car sales for Q3 2021, unless noted otherwise
- In the United States, there were 77 selling days for Q3 2022 and 77 selling days for Q3 2021
- GM Q3 2022 sales reports:
- GM Q3 2022 sales U.S.A.
- Chevrolet sales Q3 2022 U.S.A.
- Cadillac sales Q3 2022 U.S.A.
- Buick sales Q3 2022 U.S.A.
- GMC sales Q3 2022 U.S.A.
- GM Canada Q3 2022 sales
- Chevrolet Canada sales Q3 2022
- Cadillac Canada sales Q3 2022
- Buick Canada sales Q3 2022
- GMC Canada sales Q3 2022
- GM Mexico sales Q3 2022
- GM Mexico sales July 2022
- Chevrolet Mexico July 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico July 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico July 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico July 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales August 2022 sales
- Chevrolet Mexico August 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico August 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico August 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico August 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales September 2022
- Chevrolet Mexico September 2022 sales
- Buick Mexico September 2022 sales
- GMC Mexico September 2022 sales
- Cadillac Mexico September 2022 sales
- GM Mexico sales July 2022
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- GM Brazil sales Q3 2022
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- GM South Korea July 2022 sales
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- GM South Korea September 2022 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea September 2022 sales
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- GM South Korea July 2022 sales
- GM Q3 2022 sales U.S.A.
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- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
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Just think how much better sales would be if GM did a little TV add. Not everybody knows that’s CAMARO is still being made. Just the diehards even know the CAMARO is still around.
I came here to say this same thing. Challenger and Charger are total garbage compared to the Camaro. Just make a damn advertisement and make stupid special editions like the Challenger and Charger.
Agreed on all the above, and I’ll add actually produce them & deliver them to dealers.
I’m buying one before they are gone I didn’t want a EV golf cart
I think GM gets camaro sales from people who want camaro, and could eat sales from Charger and not be cannibalized into camaro sales if they had a 4 door muscle car that shared a platform with another vehicle. But GM lost sales, people buy dodge because GM and ford push them to dodge.
GM is actually coming out with a Corvette sub brand and are even considering a Camaro sub brand of Chevrolet…
If you build them, they will sell! What a concept!
Ordered mine in August of 2021, built in May 2022, sat in Michigan until September of 2022.
Bought it mid-September, so far, two trips to the body shop to get rid of “rail dust” in the paint.
Front bumper had to be replaced, paint doesn’t match, and now as a result of the “rail dust” removal, there is a slight indentation in the hood. I have two options available: 1) body filler and paint, or 2) leave it alone and live with it.
Gm/Chevrolet needs to get its act together; this is my first GM product purchase and will be my last!
Since Chevrolet has no interest to increase sales for the Camaro, not much will change. However, since production restarted of course sales will increase. If GM was interested in increase of sales, drop the basic 4 cylinder with a v6, just like the Challenger and Charger. The base price of the Challenger is just a tad over the Camaro. A young person with a tight budget can get a nice vehicle with a v6. Get it tuned, change the exhaust for more power. I see it and hear it all the time living near the University of Central Florida.
I find it interesting that muscle car sales are up all with ice engines.
I do not believe this trend will continue when they’re all battery powered slot cars. I sure would like to see a stock supercharger offered on my C8 one day. I guess it’s still ok to dream.