GM van sales decreased in the United States but increased in Canada and Mexico during the third quarter of 2023.
Sales of GM’s vans are comprised of the Chevy Express and its corporate twin, the GMC Savana, including passenger, cargo, and cutaway/chassis cab models. In Mexico, GM only sells the Express.
Cumulative deliveries of GM vans in the United States decreased 16 percent to 19,920 units in Q3 2023, comprised of:
- 12,724 units of the Chevy Express, a decrease of over 15 percent compared to 14,981 units sold in Q3 2022, and
- 7,196 units of the GMC Savana, a decrease of over 17 percent compared to 8,681 units sold in Q3 2022
Sales Numbers - GM Van Sales - Q3 2023 - USA
| MODEL | Q3 23 / Q3 22 | Q3 23 | Q3 22 | Q3 23 SHARE | Q3 22 SHARE | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | -15.07% | 12,724 | 14,981 | 64% | 63% | -16.38% | 30,546 | 36,528 |
| GMC SAVANA | -17.11% | 7,196 | 8,681 | 36% | 37% | +4.29% | 19,261 | 18,469 |
| TOTAL | -15.81% | 19,920 | 23,662 | -9.44% | 49,807 | 54,997 |
Cumulative deliveries of GM vans in Canada increased 41 percent to 2,776 units in Q3 2023, comprised of:
- 1,524 units of the Chevy Express, an increase of nearly 60 percent compared to 1,011 units sold in Q3 2022, and
- 1,252 units of the GMC Savana, an increase of over 30 percent compared to 960 units sold in Q3 2022
Sales Numbers - GM Van Sales - Q3 2023 - Canada
| MODEL | Q3 23 / Q3 22 | Q3 23 | Q3 22 | Q3 23 SHARE | Q3 22 SHARE | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | +50.74% | 1,524 | 1,011 | 55% | 51% | +51.77% | 2,876 | 1,895 |
| GMC SAVANA | +30.42% | 1,252 | 960 | 45% | 49% | +33.78% | 2,487 | 1,859 |
| TOTAL | +40.84% | 2,776 | 1,971 | +42.86% | 5,363 | 3,754 |
Deliveries of GM vans in Mexico, comprised exclusively of the Chevy Express, increased 87 percent to 43 units in Q3 2023, compared to 23 units sold in Q3 2022 – a difference of 20 units year-over-year.
Sales Numbers - GM Van Sales - Q3 2023 - Mexico
| MODEL | Q3 23 / Q3 22 | Q3 23 | Q3 22 | Q3 23 SHARE | Q3 22 SHARE | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | +86.96% | 43 | 23 | 100% | 100% | +142.68% | 199 | 82 |
| TOTAL | +86.96% | 43 | 23 | +142.68% | 199 | 82 |
In the U.S. market, the Chevy Express outsold the GMC Savana almost two-to-one, with 12,724 Express deliveries compared to 7,196 units of the Savana during third quarter of 2023.
Sales Numbers - GM Van Sales - Q3 2023 - USA
| MODEL | Q3 23 / Q3 22 | Q3 23 | Q3 22 | Q3 23 SHARE | Q3 22 SHARE | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | -15.07% | 12,724 | 14,981 | 64% | 63% | -16.38% | 30,546 | 36,528 |
| GMC SAVANA | -17.11% | 7,196 | 8,681 | 36% | 37% | +4.29% | 19,261 | 18,469 |
| TOTAL | -15.81% | 19,920 | 23,662 | -9.44% | 49,807 | 54,997 |
Looking broader at the industry, the two GM vans were outsold by much newer rivals, including the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster.
Sales Numbers - Full-Size Vans - Q3 2023 - USA
| MODEL | Q3 23 / Q3 22 | Q3 23 | Q3 22 | Q3 23 SHARE | Q3 22 SHARE | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORD TRANSIT | +24.93% | 31,389 | 25,126 | 37% | 33% | +44.69% | 92,523 | 63,946 |
| RAM PROMASTER | +34.07% | 22,446 | 16,742 | 26% | 22% | +43.56% | 60,340 | 42,031 |
| CHEVROLET EXPRESS | -15.07% | 12,724 | 14,981 | 15% | 20% | -16.38% | 30,546 | 36,528 |
| FORD E-SERIES | +13.38% | 10,982 | 9,686 | 13% | 13% | +37.25% | 30,502 | 22,223 |
| GMC SAVANA | -17.11% | 7,196 | 8,681 | 8% | 12% | +4.29% | 19,261 | 18,469 |
| TOTAL | +12.66% | 84,737 | 75,216 | +27.28% | 233,172 | 183,197 |
Lackluster sales of the Express and Savana shouldn’t come as a surprise since both models are old vehicles tracing their roots to the 1990s. The duo is by far the oldest in the segment, while also holding the title of being the oldest GM vehicles currently in production.
However, The General is rumored to be looking to remedy that by way of new models, including all-electric replacements followed by redesigning the ICE-powered Chevy Express.
About Chevrolet Express
The 2023 Chevy Express represents the 20th model year of the nameplate. For the 2023 model year, the Express and Savana continued with minimal changes, although both dropped the optional 2.8L I4 LWN turbo-diesel Duramax engine.
The 2024 Chevy Express arrives with two new transmissions being the only changes for the Passenger Van, Cargo Van and Cutaway configurations. However, the 2024 Chevy Express cargo van drops the naturally aspirated 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine, with the atmospheric 4.3L V6 LV1 gasoline engine the only remaining powerplant offered on that model. Additionally, 2024 Chevy Express infotainment system upgrades are no longer available, leaving the 2024 Express with only a single infotainment option, namely the base audio system consisting of the AM/FM stereo with MP3 player. That system includes an auxiliary jack and two front-door speakers.
About GMC Savana
Like the 2023 Express, the 2023 GMC Savana also represents the 20th model year of its respective nameplate. For the 2023 model year, the Savana and the Express continued with minimal changes, although both dropped the optional 2.8L I4 LWN turbo-diesel Duramax engine.
The 2024 GMC Savana arrives with two new transmissions being the only changes for the Passenger Van, Cargo Van and Cutaway configurations. However, the 2024 GMC Savana cargo van drops the naturally aspirated 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine, with the atmospheric 4.3L V6 LV1 gasoline engine the only remaining powerplant offered on that model. Additionally, 2024 GMC Savana infotainment system upgrades are no longer available, leaving the 2024 Savana with only a single infotainment option, namely the base audio system consisting of the AM/FM stereo with MP3 player. That system includes an auxiliary jack and two front-door speakers.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM van sales for Q3 2022, unless noted otherwise
- In the United States, there were 75 selling days for Q3 2023 and 75 selling days for Q3 2022
- 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
- GM China sales Q3 2022
- Chevrolet China Q3 2022 sales
- Buick China Q3 2022 sales
- Cadillac China Q3 2022 sales
- GM Brazil sales Q3 2022
- GM Argentina sales Q3 2022
- GM Chile sales Q3 2022
- GM Colombia sales Q3 2022
- GM South Korea sales Q3 2022
- GM South Korea July 2022 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea July 2022 sales
- Cadillac South Korea July 2022 sales
- GM South Korea August 2022 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea August 2022 sales
- Cadillac South Korea August 2022 sales
- GM South Korea September 2022 sales
- Chevrolet South Korea September 2022 sales
- Cadillac South Korea September 2022 sales
- GM South Korea July 2022 sales
- GM Q3 2022 sales U.S.A.
Comments
They’d sell more if they’d build more. Still a big backlog to order.
I work there, 26 years. We work 5 days a week sometimes 6 with all 3 shifts. 24 hrs a day 5 an 6 days a week so if there isn’t any vans I don’t know where they are going. Just saying
Assuming producing vehicles on all 3 shifts, and 40 jobs an hour, that would add up to well over 200,000 vehicles annually. When i was feeding this plant with parts via the LLP, Penske Logistics, the numbers were nowhere near that high.
Worked there 26 years We work 5 to 6 days a week 24 hrs a day. That can all be checked. Have no reason to lie. Maybe u don’t know we also build the Colorado a canyon not all vans. So. I don’t know who u supplied or what an don’t care
Who wants to buy a 3500 van, load it with tools and supplies and maybe hook up a trailer and it bogs like dog with only v6 power available?
That V6 is pretty powerful and very reliable, but you are right that it’s not going to compete with the EcoBoost V6 in the Transit in power output. The Transit is also pushing $45,000 for a base model now too though – about $5500 more than the Express or Savanna before incentives.
I agree with you on the 4.3L V6 though – I’m surprised they are still in production to be honest with you. It only puts out about 305 lb ft of torque. They really need to consider a 2.7L TurboMax if they want to downsize gas motors like that.
The website says that the 6.6L V8 is still an option though for the 2024 model GMC. Maybe they are not killing the V8 for another few months?
They may have changed course and made the 6.6 available again.
I am thinking they do not want to invest in the engineering to put the 4t in it or it may not be possible.
The v6 is almost a mothballed engine, I would not doubt they are buying junkyard cores to produce remaned engines.
I thought that Navistar was building a lot of the cutaways to help with demand since the vans share a GM factory with the popular new Colorado….
This thing is a perfect candidate for the 2.7L Turbomax 4 and 6.6L Duramax diesel accompanying the 6.6L gas V8 as options. They are leaving sales on the table here for the Ford Transit.
Medium term – I wonder if they can somehow take the BrightDrop body and install a new Cowl and front end to accommodate gasoline and diesel engines. That way upfitters can work with both ICE and electric models with the exact same body behind the B-pillar. Fleets could easily switch between gas/diesel and electric as their needs evolve. The Bright Drop is a legitimately good van, but it’s appeal is limited by being EV only. I know that means two different assembly lines, but it might be the key to dominance in this market for the next 30 years. General Motors is one of only a few companies that can really scale up and dominate this market because it’s so expensive to compete. Others have tried (Nissan) but the players are Stellantis (Fiat/Ram), Ford, General Motors, and Daimler/Sprinter.
Outside threats are probably Tesla, VW, Hyundai, and Toyota.
Honestly just adding GMC and Chevrolet branding to the Bright Drop would broaden GM’s appeal in the large van market in a huge way, even if it’s EV only. The BrightDrop seems to be an excellent product.
Yup I said long ago I would be interested in a Brightdrop body on a Silverado HD chassis with a diesel / 10 spd.
If they can make it work…..they’d be building a very strong future with something that would cost Ford and Mercedes a fortune to match.
The best way to make sure the excellent Brightdrop electric vans own that market in 10 years is to put the same box on a gas/diesel chassis right now and sell it alongside the aging Express/Savanna through Chevy and GMC dealers. The upfitters would have a great reason to invest in the tooling for the new models because everyone knows it will be around for decades. Fleet managers would feel more comfortable knowing that the ICE models they are buying now has aftermarket shelving/lighting/hinges/wheels/tires, etc. that can be easily unbolted and transferred to an almost identical, newer EV model when they are ready to trade up.
If they could do that – GM would be able to target the massive E-commerce fleets with EV’s and the smaller fleets with cheaper ICE vans.
I have no idea if that’s possible, and I’m sure it’s not cheap. But I figured the Ultium chassis and batteries take up so much space that an Express 3500 chassis could easily fit under that floor. The Bright Drops are massive boxes (almost step-vans) compared to the Transit and Express – so they’d have a natural advantage in terms of simple cargo volume over those older vans.
I’d bet that they could put the body on an ICE chassis to accelerate adoption of their vans in ways that would truly combat Ford and Mercedes. But basically they would have to invest in ICE versions of that Bright Drop van now to sell more EV versions later. =
Yes, and the Brightdrop body is large enough to be used as an RV conversion which is what I would use it for, just don’t want electric power.
No kidding! GM didn’t build enough and the ones they did build were underpowered. Another dumb Mary move. It’s been corrected now but how many customers were lost? Many permanently.
They jacked me around trying to order a 2016 back in August of 2015. I finally had to find a used 2015 to purchase. That was the last time I tried to order anything from GM. You suck Mary!!!!
I wish their crack correspondent writing this article would read the articles by their other crack correspondents of several weeks ago indicating they made the 6.6L V-8 available again, which goes to the very heart of the sales decline.
This article states outdated information regarding availability.
Jerked around so much decided to stick to my 25 year old IDI Diesel. Fix the truck up and it’s actually good for another 20 years.
“Lackluster sales of the Express and Savana shouldn’t come as a surprise since both models are old vehicles tracing their roots to the 1990s.”… This article is silly, unless your name is Penske, U-Haul or Enterprise and you have a fleet number good luck finding or ordering one as a retail customer. Mexico almost doubled their Q3 sales numbers from 23 to 43?? WTH!
WHEN PRODUCTION START GMC Savana 2024