Guess how many Bolts will were sold in May?
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What confuses me is the delivery sheet says 1566, but the press release says 1438 to retail customers. Makes me think they might be about 10% fleet sales?
They are clear on the subject that the information in the press report is for retail sales, as they also say Malibu had best month since 1980, but sales were less than last year. My guess is it is the best retail month ever, so the discrepancy between the two numbers must be retail vs total deliveries. I wonder if that is a slip up on their part as they usually don't advertise how many of a particular vehicle were for fleet sales, do they?
https://www.gm.com/investors/sales/us-sales-production.html
They are clear on the subject that the information in the press report is for retail sales, as they also say Malibu had best month since 1980, but sales were less than last year. My guess is it is the best retail month ever, so the discrepancy between the two numbers must be retail vs total deliveries. I wonder if that is a slip up on their part as they usually don't advertise how many of a particular vehicle were for fleet sales, do they?
https://www.gm.com/investors/sales/us-sales-production.html
Yep, the other 100-something sales were fleet sales.
isn't GM using some Bolts in their self driving car developments? would those be counted in the total number? and then there's the Maven car sharing service-- likely deploying Bolts there as well
What is interesting is the Volt+Bolt number which is approaching ~4000 sales pm.
So this tells one that what people want is a large variety of vehicles which become steady sellers. If someone wants a certain vehicle type they are resistant to buying the Bolt even if it is electric which they want.
So this tells one that what people want is a large variety of vehicles which become steady sellers. If someone wants a certain vehicle type they are resistant to buying the Bolt even if it is electric which they want.
A subcompact hatchback has always been a weak selling segment despite being one of the cheapest...Depending on the maker, the mid/compact SUV segment (Equinox, CRV, Rav4) outsells a subcompact hatches (Spark/Sonic hatch, Fit, Yaris) by 5-10 times...Heck the top 3 selling models are Full size pickups...
Make no mistake, if the Bolt looked like FNR-X concept, even if was downsized for the subcompact segment it would probably have double the sales...88% of all Bolts were sold in IMAGE CONSCIENCE California where if the buyer can afford the Bolt, high odds they're already driving a BMW/MB/Lexus/Audi and most wouldn't give up their ICE luxury car for a Bolt even if it was $19,995 with 1000 miles of range...
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Agreed. Good looking products tend to attract people and sell well. It's just how human nature works.
The Bolt is a bland car at best and rather ungainly at worst. The rear is absolutely hideous. GM needs a revamping of their styling department. Their cars are just too bland and have no real character or definition.
I’m not sure about this however. One suspects it would attract the same percentage from buyers of that body type. Right now about 1%-2%. Also Equinox buyers expect a lot more from their cars than a city beater. The Rav4 EV never really sold well.
My point was that EV’s attract a certain niche of customers from each body type. And it appears these customers may not be readily translatable to other body types.
The vast majority of cars sold on the market are bleh, mediocre looking cars. Most people do not want a striking looking car for normal use.
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True. More so since gas prices were cut in half.
I'm sorry but you are mistaken. I would be much more inclined to buy it, yes. The general public doesn't like to stand out like that.
Best selling passenger cars according to Business Insider (based on total sales) in order:
Toyota Camry
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Honda Accord
Nissan Altima
Ford Fusion
Chevrolet Malibu
Nissan Sentra
Hyundai Elantra
With the possible exception of the Sentra, the numbers are higher for the less stylish models.
Best selling CUVs:
Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV4
Nissan Rogue
Ford Escape
Ford Explorer
Chevrolet Equinox
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Same deal here - the numbers are higher for the less stylish models. Price may be a factor that I didn't take any time to compare.
My claim (which is impossible to prove/disprove) was "DOUBLE THE SALES", so the Bolt sold 1566 last month, my claim was that they would have 3132 sales...
Next, your Bus Insider article is CARS as in sedans/coupes which excludes TRUCKS...Ford typically reports sales later than most, I cannot find May data yet, so I'll go with April...
The F150 sold 70,657 units in April 2017...
The top of your list Camry sold 31,428 in April 2017...
http://www.trucktrend.com/news/1705...yota+motor+north+america+april+2017+sales.htm
Apology accepted...
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A claim that started with "Make no mistake".
No, I excluded the trucks, but I did include CUVs. Here's the article: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-trucks-vehicle-america-2016-2017-1
HAH!!! You wish!
Bottom line is that MEH sells to the average buyer.
Bolt looks okay for what it is. It's the overall shape that doesn't grab me, not what they did with it. For the average buyer I'm sure it's just fine, or perhaps a bit too stylish even.
Heck, if my wife really really really likes it I might let her trade our Volt in. Probably not though.
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In the Bolt's case, MEH doesn't sell much at all.A claim that started with "Make no mistake".
No, I excluded the trucks, but I did include CUVs. Here's the article: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-trucks-vehicle-america-2016-2017-1
HAH!!! You wish!
Bottom line is that MEH sells to the average buyer.
Bolt looks okay for what it is. It's the overall shape that doesn't grab me, not what they did with it. For the average buyer I'm sure it's just fine, or perhaps a bit too stylish even.
Heck, if my wife really really really likes it I might let her trade our Volt in. Probably not though.
Current Camry has a pretty aggressive front end, new gen Camry looks even less bland...In SUV land, while somewhat boring they are all highly stylized...Lexus is the mainstream brand that I would say is one of the least bland but it's also up there at about $35K for base models...But overall people just love the feeling of riding high in a SUV with AWD...A claim that started with "Make no mistake".
No, I excluded the trucks, but I did include CUVs. Here's the article: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-trucks-vehicle-america-2016-2017-1
HAH!!! You wish!
Bottom line is that MEH sells to the average buyer.
Bolt looks okay for what it is. It's the overall shape that doesn't grab me, not what they did with it. For the average buyer I'm sure it's just fine, or perhaps a bit too stylish even.
Heck, if my wife really really really likes it I might let her trade our Volt in. Probably not though.
I think it is combination of "Meh" mixed with $40k price tag. I think if the Bolt EV were $10k cheaper it would sell relatively well. However, performance from Bolt is actually pretty good. I think if it added optional AWD and were a CUV it would sell really well.
However, what Tesla has going for them is the Supercharging infrastructure and the Autopilot. I think GM needs to compete on those grounds or no matter what they make won't sell in large numbers. Should probably go in with other legacy automakers and install a nationwide network of chargers. Most CCS are in the wrong spots for long distance travel, and too slow anyway.
Also, GM has an image issue. People in coastal areas generally don't like them no matter what they do, even now that they make some great vehicles. The Volt has actually captured a fair number of those buyers though, but they need to do more.
Changes don't happen overnight. It can take decades, but planning has to start now. GM is making record profits, they should put some of that to improve their image and expand clean energy and EVs.
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You can get away with a multitude of sins where brand and model loyalty is in play. Bland perhaps not, but fugly, which is the next best thing.
People don't like being approached by strangers when they roll up in their car. You can't have that kind of "leave me alone" space rolling up in an ELR (as an example).
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Perhaps...that's why I also mentioned somewhere else that GM has gotten the Bolt's pricing WAY off. It's far too much money for what it is and all they were banking on was EV range. You cannot make a successful car on a single attribute alone. Eventually all the other attributes that don't add to the car's appeal will catch up to its fate.
What Tesla has going for it is that it's a cutting edge company. It takes risks that GM simply won't take. I'm not talking just about the product but also the vision. While GM is busy developing the next gas-guzzler truck, companies like Tesla, etc are developing the next generation of automobiles. There is a huge "vision" gap between companies like GM and companies like Tesla.
There can never be any progress in a whole-hearted fashion when all companies do with their "Record profits" is do more of the same. Aren't people getting tired of the same old, archaic, outdated tech being shoved down their throats again and again just so some stock market goons and shareholders can be given cake, coffee, and have a smile on their faces? If not, what a sad face of humanity we have keeping us back.
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