C7 Sales Declining

[John]

AutoNews is reporting that just 800 new Corvettes were sold last month. This is the lowest monthly rates in the last six years, only worse during that time period when the plant was shut down during the C6 to C7 conversion.. Thanks to gmauthority, here are the monthly details.



http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevr...sales-numbers/

[John]

GM announced yesterday a $10,000 discount on 2019 Buick LaCross. It took this same amount of a factory discount at the end of the C6 era to clear out that Corvette.

If the 800 sales for January reported by AutoNews is correct (for we only now have quarterly official GM news), and as we believe that the plant worked 22 days in the month of January, at a current rate of 93 Corvettes per day, approximately 2,043 C7 were made.

As a result of that sobering news, we will check in with our friend who owns einventory.com about middle of this month, and see how this changed their one month earlier reported 162 days supply of the C7.

Here are some other current GM discounts on 2019 vehicles:

$7,475 on GMC Acadia;
$7,550 on Chevy Tahoe

Also over $10,000 discounts on some 2018 GM pickups.

https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-art...Aq1i30yJzFP19g

[MikeC8]

Well maybe after looking at the C6 2010 numbers and up maybe 18,000 is normal production numbers after 5 years . Just wish we could see more pictures of the C8 with less camo soon. Spring isn’t far off.

[meyerweb]

The internet has really made life difficult for automakers, in some ways. In the old days, most car buyers wouldn't have any idea when a new model was coming out, and would continue buying the current model. Today, pretty much EVERYONE knows the C8 is on the way, and that has to be depressing sales of the C7. So new Corvette buyers, or people upgrading from an earlier generation, have every incentive to wait and see what the next generation brings, knowing that even if they decide on a C7 they'll get a heck of a discount. *

Combined that with the fact that the 2019 C7 is, for all intents and purposes, the same as the 2014 C7, and early C7 buyers who might consider buying an updated C7 have no incentive to do so.

*This isn't limited to cars, either. Pretty much any technology that gets covered on the WWW faces the same issue. Cell phones, cameras, TVs. Why buy the last generation at close to full price when newer, better, faster, cheaper is right around the corner.

[JB]

Imternet does male for instant communication. What was brand new cutting edge just the other day has become as some would say old news in a much faster fashion.

life cycles of the hottest items are getting shorter.

very challenging environment.

glad ti hear the c8 corvette is almost ready..

[3 Z06ZR1]

GM announced yesterday a $10,000 discount on 2019 Buick LaCross. It took this same amount of a factory discount at the end of the C6 era to clear out that Corvette.

If the 800 sales for January reported by AutoNews is correct (for we only now have quarterly official GM news), and as we believe that the plant worked 22 days in the month of January, at a current rate of 93 Corvettes per day, approximately 2,043 C7 were made.

As a result of that sobering news, we will check in with our friend who owns einventory.com about middle of this month, and see how this changed their one month earlier reported 162 days supply of the C7.

Here are some other current GM discounts on 2019 vehicles:

$7,475 on GMC Acadia;
$7,550 on Chevy Tahoe

Also over $10,000 discounts on some 2018 GM pickups.

https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-art...Aq1i30yJzFP19g

Great time to buy! I shopped and bought a new GMC for 35 percent off, Then bought about the last 2018 Z06 made (vin 2391 out of 2353) 1/25/18 born date
91lk for 74k. Both in December. Matches my 2017 value that was 86k for 68k but it had 1200 miles. Plus the prices have raised.

[3 Z06ZR1]

The internet has really made life difficult for automakers, in some ways. In the old days, most car buyers wouldn't have any idea when a new model was coming out, and would continue buying the current model. Today, pretty much EVERYONE knows the C8 is on the way, and that has to be depressing sales of the C7. So new Corvette buyers, or people upgrading from an earlier generation, have every incentive to wait and see what the next generation brings, knowing that even if they decide on a C7 they'll get a heck of a discount. *

Combined that with the fact that the 2019 C7 is, for all intents and purposes, the same as the 2014 C7, and early C7 buyers who might consider buying an updated C7 have no incentive to do so.

*This isn't limited to cars, either. Pretty much any technology that gets covered on the WWW faces the same issue. Cell phones, cameras, TVs. Why buy the last generation at close to full price when newer, better, faster, cheaper is right around the corner.

No I dis agree there the new 2018-19 has changed a lot over the 2014-15 ESp when your comparing the Z06 models. The 2018-19 is improved a lot need to own both to know.

[3 Z06ZR1]

Last month was also very bad weather wise. So that I'm sure had a effect of Corvette sales.

[3 Z06ZR1]

Imternet does male for instant communication. What was brand new cutting edge just the other day has become as some would say old news in a much faster fashion.

life cycles of the hottest items are getting shorter.

very challenging environment.

glad ti hear the c8 corvette is almost ready..

Start stop is a non starter. Not switchable on the new blazer. They lost a sale to me!

[MikeC8]

Start stop on my Jagaur is a pain in the arch .... so I turn if off permanently until I might want it. No big deal. Doesn’t GM have the same type system ?

[Busa Dave]

On the start stop non selectable on off you can rest assured that this will be a major focus of the aftermarket to provide a solution lol. Personally do not see this as an issue because it will be able to be defeated but we will just have to wait and see. In Texas with the extreme summers this is a absolute non starter for me if it is not able to be defeated with aftermarket programming do not care now cool and how much HP the car makes.

[George]

On the start stop non selectable on off you can rest assured that this will be a major focus of the aftermarket to provide a solution lol. Personally do not see this as an issue because it will be able to be defeated but we will just have to wait and see. In Texas with the extreme summers this is a absolute non starter for me if it is not able to be defeated with aftermarket programming do not care now cool and how much HP the car makes.

I would think this worthless feature would be a non starter for everyone...if unable to defeat it.

[3 Z06ZR1]

I would think this worthless feature would be a non starter for everyone...if unable to defeat it.

The 4 cylinder in a full size pick-up is bad as well. They are showing to be much less of an engine than the 5.3 V8's the 5.3 V8 can match or beat the new turbo 4 for highway MPG.
While having much more power. To me the new cars have enough gadgets in 2018. More can be less.

[JB]

If gm wants better sales increase incentives.

gm s incentives on cirvette and camaro have been very light comparatively.

besides brand loyalists like most of us here....dollars off msrp talk...

the competition is offering huge discounts ..

i dont think GM discounts for the corvette right now equal the best we have seen in the entire c7 production run..

it was during the bowling green plant shutdown to improve the paint process..

that 2016 and 2017 model year sales were the highest I had ever seen ...

todays incentives are simply not as attractive...

gm wants to increase sales? Answer is simple....prime the pump...

[Busa Dave]

I would think this worthless feature would be a non starter for everyone...if unable to defeat it.

Funny thing is on the trucks I drive it is not a feature nor planned by any of the Big 3 ------ heavy duty series PU diesel trucks this is a no no.