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NB: Our numbers are straight from the various companies’ media sites. There may be discrepancies between them and those from other sources, because some may be be NA (Canada too) and other US only.
We are currently researching purchasing an automotive sales analysis data base from a supplier. Our goal is to provide timely, accurate information and analysis. That has never been done before consistently at TTAC. Stay tuned for an announcement.
Toyota is also leading in the compact segment with it’s perennially popular Corolla. The Cobalt is shriveling away in its last year. The Caliber has imploded, rather spectacularly at that. And the new Kia Forte is off to a strong start. Chart follows:
| Ranked by YTD sales | Nov. 09 | change from 08 | YTD 09 | Change from 08 |
| Civic | 13955 | -16% | 237403 | -26% |
| Corolla | 21899 | 9% | 262654 | -20% |
| Focus | 10196 | 24% | 146228 | -21% |
| Jetta | 7957 | 23% | 98194 | 10% |
| Elantra | 6127 | 52% | 97506 | 6% |
| Cobalt | 5112 | -19% | 96052 | -45% |
| Mazda 3 | 5923 | 3% | 90000 | N/A |
| Sentra | 5210 | 4% | 76514 | -19% |
| Impreza | 2555 | -34% | 42964 | -4% |
| Forte | 4004 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Caliber | 412 | -85% | 30809 | -62% |
| Golf/Rabbit/GTI | 1369 | -23% | 13779 | -59% |
25 Comments on “November Sales Snapshot: Compact Cars (Updated w/Mazda & VW and corrected Honda Numbers)...”
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The table formatting doesn’t really work with Firefox — the headings do not line up and the final column is not visible.
Sorry. We’re developing a whole new graphic package and sales analysis program; Should be ready by next month.
Wonder how the Mazda3 and Lancer fared?
Sounds like Dodge is really on stable footing with the Caliber. How long until Fiat files for bankruptcy?
Any numbers for the Jetta?
Civic sales are still going strong, and they should be. Compared to the competition I think it fares very well, even in this, it’s fifth model year. I wonder if Honda will let this design ride for another year, instead of proceeding with the customary 5 year redesign. Hell, they may end up doing more harm than good. Honda has been freaking me out lately what with their newfound hybrid fetish, denouncement of direct injection, choices regarding the CR-Z, mishandling of Acura, and some of the weird styling.
Civic spanks the Corolla and Accord spanks the Camry. Good news for highly focusing Honda, bad news for A.D.D. Toyota.
Actually NOPE.
TTAC data is wrong.
Here are the numbers. Toyota kicks ass.
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html#autosalesC
Our numbers are straight from the Honda media site press release. What may be going on is that some of the numbers the various companies release might be NA (Canada too) and other US only.
We are currently researching purchasing an automotive sales analysis data base from a supplier. Our goal is to provide timely, accurate information and analysis. That has never been done before consistently at TTAC. Stay tuned for an announcement. In the meantime, I apologize if these numbers are not all apple to apple comparisons, but they are from the various companies directly.
If you purchase a sales analysis engine – please break out fleet sales from retail. Retail is really the most important figures you can publish b/c it gives you the most accurate view of how well a car is really selling at a higher transaction price.
I ask this b/c a lot of companies have relied on fleet sales to prop up their overall volume (some cars selling 60% to fleets of a designated model). Plus this would give us a better way to analyze GM & Ford’s claims of increased retail sales (reason why they had year over year sales losses) – they at a point were solely blaming their losses on their reduction of fleet sales – not loss of retail sales from poor products and free loans to sell cars to credit risk customers. A lot of people hang their hat on sales volume and call it a day – it doesn’t work that way b/c in the end it’s about profitability. The Corolla may outsell the Civic in volume but we need to see how much $$ gets put on the hood of each car to entice that sale and more importantly how many of those sales #s were attributable to fleet sales (From previous fleet sales #s – 15-20% of Corollas went to fleets whereas 1-2% of Civics did – mainly their NGX Civics). Look at it this way if you don’t understand…Does the fact that a guy have 20 total bills (20 $1 bills) wealthier than the guy who has 17 total bills (17 $1 bills and 1 $5 bill)?
Also – if we can add in the Edmunds incentives to that same chart so we can get a proper big picture. We are looking at what the customers want and how much they will pay. That’s all I want for Xmas.
Can’t view right part of the chart. Tried both Firefox and IE7.
Where’s the Mazda3? It’s the second best selling car in Canada, behind the Civic. It must be above the Caliber!
Actually NOPE.
Corolla and Civic are the best selling cars in Canada. If Corolla and Matrix numbers are cumulated, Corolla/Matrix is number one and Civic number two. If not Civic is number one and Corolla is number two.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2008/11/27/toyota-corolla-takes-top-spot-in-october.htm
I’m surprised the Corolla made such a comeback in 2008! I thought the Mazda3 had more momentum on its side after overtaking the Corolla in previous years.
Why do people buy the Jetta over the Golf?
US buyers seem to strongly prefer sedans over hatchbacks. In Canada the Golf/GTI sales are about on par with the Jetta sales, and in Europe hardly anyone buys a small car with a trunk.
Because for at least the past year you could get a Jetta with a TDI, but not the Rabbit. The “Golf” just went back on sale in the US, replacing the Rabbit (again/still). I don’t think you could recently get a petrol turbo Rabbit, and don’t think it’s an option on Golf (excepting GTI, which is pricey per performance IMHO). I’m pretty sure you could still get turbo4 petrol Jettas.
Basically, numerous factors stacking the deck for the sedan and against the hatches. Which is fine, just don’t do that and turn around and say “Americans don’t want hatches.” Luckily VW doesn’t seem inclined to say that (yet).
Sedans have a more grown-up look. Hatches are too boy-racer.
For me personally, I wanted a Rabbit earlier this year when I bought my car, but VW made it much easier for me to get a Jetta.
Better choice of option and colors I wanted, and overall price and availability. It was impossible to find a Rabbit with what I wanted with a Price I could go with. Dealerships were willing to take better offers on a Jetta because they weren’t “rare” as rabbits were. I also assume that because my Jetta was Hecho en Mexico, I could get the car cheaper overall.
Honda’s numbers are for North America.
Toyota’s are US only.
For an apple to apple comparison, add at least 5678 Corolla/Matrix sold in Canada.
http://media.toyota.ca/pr/tci/en/toyota-and-lexus-enjoy-best-ever-149433.aspx
I’m not sure how many sold in Mexic.
My family still owns a civic 91 hatch and I am a big fan, but I know how well the civic sold in the US only a year and a half ago (53,000 units in May 2008, when it was THE best selling vehicle in the US and the F-150 fell to No. 5). Even in other months, Civics rarely fell below the 30,000 units in the US.
Civics current sales are TERRIBLE at 13,955 and no amount of spin can justify them. it’s better if you try to find WHY it did so terrible.
Dodge Caliber has been out of production for months, due to the bankuptcy and subsequent production shut down. 2010 Caliber with upgraded interior is/will be starting up shortly. 2009 Caliber inventory sold out during Cas For Clunkers, that’s why only 412 were sold in November.
Shh… Why interject common sense into the Chrysler Apocalypse talk…
This point has been ignored for months as well, each and every month we get the same comments of how Chrysler is falling off the cliff. What do you expect… when you have no product to sell?
But, no product, no money. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for lack of interest or lack of product, every lost sale is a blow to the Corp. That lost one won’t be coming back anytime soon. Keep it up and there’s no Corp. Promised product don’t pay no bills.
Hmmm
I know Im not going to get a decent / solid answer… but why is there no listing for the Mazda 3 hatch?
Can I at least find out how its selling over the hatch from abotu 2-4yrs ago?