Looks like Sonic is back on the chopping block

[JTee2017]

Here's a thought .. .

GM ought to try something extraordinary. Hike up production of the Sonic and offer them to dealers at a reduced price instead of the come and go customer incentives. Knock 18% off the MSRP right to the dealers plus whatever special private finance,GM Card, and other offers there usually are directly to customers that qualify. Sell the Sonic at $14K to $19 K max. Advertise this deal like they did with "Cash for Clunkers" back in 2008-9.
Make, or "encourage", the dealers take a minimum number of Sonics based on the size of the dealer. 3 or 4 at small dealers and 30, 40 or 50 at large dealers.

I would bet, when customers get to actually SEE the Sonics on the lots at reasonable prices they would sell like hot cakes because there ARE people looking for small *affordable* and NEW cars.
The Sonic, as we know, is a deceptively roomy and useful car and there is a HUGE demographic out there with lower paying jobs, but still need decent transportation. The "Spark" is way to s-m-a-l-l.

This would get Orion up to a higher production level and also up the CAFE numbers for GM to offset the gas guzzler SUV sales.

Even back in 2017 when I bought, most small town dealers had no more than 1 or 2 Sonics at a time. Even larger dealers in large cities (+1M people and 22 Chevy dealers) I could only find 5 to 6 Sonics on a lot.
We know that a Sonic doesn't have huge profit per unit. . . . but in numbers that would make up for it.
Better than laying people off or having them work at a snails pace on the assembly line.

 

[92dakota]

honestly if it wasn't for transformers 4 movie ... i didn't even know the sonic existed due to well mentioned reasons already in this thread..

When my grandma got her's the lot had a few of them but being a retirement community i can see why lol

 

[dannyg]

...
I would bet, when customers get to actually SEE the Sonics on the lots at reasonable prices they would sell like hot cakes because there ARE people looking for small *affordable* and NEW cars.[/B]
The Sonic, as we know, is a deceptively roomy and useful car and there is a HUGE demographic out there with lower paying jobs, but still need decent transportation. The "Spark" is way to s-m-a-l-l.

...

From your mouth to Mary Barra's ears. Not to be a downer but IMO our only hope is with Cruze going away they'll put some actual effort in Sonic.

Sorry GM, I for one will never ever buy a Trax.

 

[Pak4now]

Mary Barra's grand plan is to focus on the money, not the customer. GM and Chevrolet in particular, is losing market share but is more profitable than ever. The shareholders are happy and Mary keeps her job. Any model that doesn't perform to "bean counter" standards will be short lived.

 

[orangeltz13]

why are the US automakers giving the small car market away?

It is painfully obvious the US automakers are giving up on the small car market. Personally, I think it is too bad. Chrysler doesn't have a small car. Ford is doing away with its small car line and so is GM. So if the American public wants a small car they will be forced to buy them from Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan or Subaru. I am not sure how that will help the US automaker remain relevant to people who can't afford to buy higher priced vehicles. Especially when people are loosing their jobs in the process due to plant closures and the tier 1 suppliers that supported the closed plant. Maybe the US automakers have stock the foreign automakers that could explain why they are backing away from the small car market. Once the foreign automakers have control of the small car market they will set their sights on the larger cars and then the pickups and cross over vehicles. It's just a matter of time.

 

[JTee2017]

It is painfully obvious the US automakers are giving up on the small car market. Personally, I think it is too bad. Chrysler doesn't have a small car. Ford is doing away with its small car line and so is GM. So if the American public wants a small car they will be forced to buy them from Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan or Subaru. I am not sure how that will help the US automaker remain relevant to people who can't afford to buy higher priced vehicles. Especially when people are loosing their jobs in the process due to plant closures and the tier 1 suppliers that supported the closed plant. Maybe the US automakers have stock the foreign automakers that could explain why they are backing away from the small car market. Once the foreign automakers have control of the small car market they will set their sights on the larger cars and then the pickups and cross over vehicles. It's just a matter of time.

Exactly. The entry level car market is where futures sales are cultivated. And in spite of what the figures show for income and employment, there is a huge demographic in need of a small, but roomy and affordable car like the Sonic. I've said it before and the dimensions are there to compare. . . the Sonic Hatch Back has essentially the same interior space for passengers and cargo as the Chevrolet Trax. Why not give customers the choice if the Trax is a bit out of reach for them?
Once a car buyer moves to a brand in the entry level market, likely they will stay with that brand when they can afford that next CUV or SUV when they are ready to move up.
GM, Ford, Chrysler are being short sighted to say the least.

 

[dannyg]

Glad to see the Sonic at the NY Auto Show which I visited today. A nice white RS with black wheels, automatic, Convenience Package. Saw a few people checking it out.

Elantra GT didn’t look bad, Corolla hatchback rear end downright weird looking, still can’t stand the Civic hatch. Overall I’d say Sonic is still very much competitive at the cheaper end of the spectrum, even if it could use an update.

There was a nice Cruze sedan there, too bad that’s going away. Liked the new Cadillac CT5 a lot, even though that’s a daydream for me ($$$).

 

[JTee2017]

Now if the dealers would just stock more Sonics . . ..

If GM encouraged dealers to stock 6 to 10 Sonics especially this time of year, they would sell. Include a few incentives for new buyers, loyalty, financing, etc

People have asked me several times where I bought mine and where they can find one . . ..

 

[dannyg]

My local Chevy dealer is down to two Cruze. I’m hoping they will will order a few Sonics to fill the gap left by Cruze going away.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Could Rising Fuel Co$ts Be a Stay of Execution on the Sonic's Life?

As of this posting (23 April 2019), gasoline prices have been steadily climbing.

It might be too early, but I'd be interested if Chevrolet has seen an increase of demand for this little car (??) And if this continues, would this be a good thing?

Gas prices hit $4.70 per gallon in California

Price of Crude Oil opcorn:

 

[JTee2017]

What I'd really like to see is a new Sonic hatchback and sedan. . . . same size we have now. .. . not small like the Spark.
And offer it with the newer 163HP 1.5L LVF turbo and, if necessary, with the CVT like they have in the Malibu. Plus . . a manual gear box as an option.

Horsepower - - (hp / kW @ RPM) Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM)
Specificationc:163 / 122 @ 5700 rpm __ 184 / 250 @ 2500-3000

Read more: GM 1.5 Liter Turbo I4 LFV Engine Info, Power, Specs, Wiki | GM Authority


https://gearsmagazine.com/magazine/moving-right-along-a-look-at-the-latest-cvt-the-vt40-cvt-250/

 

[Andy3521]

I'd love to see GM make a true RS version by putting in the 2.0 turbo from the Malibu with the performance package as a standard option.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Just when you think it's over...

Well, an interesting thing happened over at "GM Authority's" Website. If this is old news, I apologize as this is the first I've heard of it. But it appears both the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore is going for a redesign and will be selling out of China.

In fact, the new Chevy will be called "Trailblazer" (sound's familiar) and the new Buick will be "Encore GX." They look nothing like the current models and they look more towards a midsized vehicle than their current compact size (see attached photos below).

Could this be the reason why GM hasn't put the nail in the Sonic's coffin (yet)?

Outgoing Chevy Trax, Buick Encore To Stay For 2020 Model Year | GM Authority

Oh, and by the way, what the heck is this? A lampoon website?
https://shallotsoft.com/2020-chevy-sonic-rs-specs/

 

[JTee2017]

Well, an interesting thing happened over at "GM Authority's" Website. If this is old news, I apologize as this is the first I've heard of it. But it appears both the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore is going for a redesign and will be selling out of China.

In fact, the new Chevy will be called "Trailblazer" (sound's familiar) and the new Buick will be "Encore GX." They look nothing like the current models and they look more towards a midsized vehicle than their current compact size (see attached photos below).

Could this be the reason why GM hasn't put the nail in the Sonic's coffin (yet)?

Outgoing Chevy Trax, Buick Encore To Stay For 2020 Model Year | GM Authority

Oh, and by the way, what the heck is this? A lampoon website?
https://shallotsoft.com/2020-chevy-sonic-rs-specs/

Yeah, I read about the new "additional " sized Encore GX and Trailblazer and saw pictures of both. I think one article said both models would still be sold through at least for 2020.

I'm wondering too if GM might see the wisdom in keeping the Sonic on board since gasoline prices are now hiking up once again.

Oh and the last link is one of many "click bait" websites touting "new" information and it's just full of Captain Obvious poor grammar dialog that sounds like it was written in China. The idea is to get people to click on the website.

 

[K-Bob]

The situation is dire for cars.

It is painfully obvious the US automakers are giving up on the small car market. Personally, I think it is too bad. Chrysler doesn't have a small car. Ford is doing away with its small car line and so is GM. So if the American public wants a small car they will be forced to buy them from Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan or Subaru. I am not sure how that will help the US automaker remain relevant to people who can't afford to buy higher priced vehicles. Especially when people are loosing their jobs in the process due to plant closures and the tier 1 suppliers that supported the closed plant. Maybe the US automakers have stock the foreign automakers that could explain why they are backing away from the small car market. Once the foreign automakers have control of the small car market they will set their sights on the larger cars and then the pickups and cross over vehicles. It's just a matter of time.

Right now at our dealership, there is only one Sonic and a handful of Cruzes. We do not even have a single Buick Regal Liftback on the lot. We hardly have any Buick sedans at all. And of course GM dropped the Verano from the US market altogether.
But we have about an acre of pickup trucks.
Of the 15 vehicles on the showroom floor, only 1 is a regular car (2 are Vettes) the rest are trucks/suvs.
So even if someone was inclined towards getting a car, they'd have trouble even seeing or test driving one. I know: when I bought my Sonic, we had to dealer trade it from the next state.
And it's not just availability, it's pricing too. A small/mid SUV with all the desirable options is almost always cheaper than a similarly equipped car now that they are axing the entry-level cars.

 

[dannyg]

They’ve got 20% discount over at the website through 4/30. It will be interesting to see what they do in May. I certainly hope they keep the Sonic going...

https://www.chevrolet.com/current-d...en-panel=blazer:blazer&open-panel=sonic:sonic

 

[JTee2017]

Sonics have all but evaporated within 75 miles of me and that covers three large cities and at least 5 other medium sized cities. At least 22 dealers in all.
Most are sedans. My local Chevy dealer must have stocked up on the Cruze since they have about 15 currently. But they won't last long.
They have 2 Sparks and had one Bolt awhile ago.
What does GM, Ford and FCA expect entry level buyers to purchase? I think they are shooting themselves in the foot.
Trax and Encore are still to pricey for an entry level buyer or someone who needs an extra commuter type car besides a family car.
The Sonic is a nice sized small car. Spark just is not big enough for most of the American market.
Subaru, Kia, Nissan and even used VW Golf will now be in demand especially in the used market as well as new.
We have a Chevrolet Equinox for 3 years now which we bought new. We use the Sonic much more for every day trips, going out to eat, etc. We just went to a couple home supply stores yesterday and loaded the back of our Sonic hatch back with 3 bags of fertilizer, 4 cases of motor oil, and a bunch of smaller items all behind the rear seat.
We find the Sonic hatch back with the rear seat backs down handles most of any larger items and cargo we might need to haul.

 

[Pak4now]

I like selling the Sonic. It's a great little car for the price. But the GM pencil pushers only look at the numbers. When you look at the stats from the first quarter it's surprising. Nationally for the first quarter Chevrolet car sales are off 18%. If you look at Sonic sales in the South Central Region CYTD -66.8%. If you look at available days supply, South Central has 184 days and on the National level it's 179 days. Granted GM counts vehicles in transit and in system when they figure those numbers. But when you look at Cruze sedan in South Central 226 available vehicles is a 360 day supply. It's a numbers game. Sad really

 

[sleepybird09]

I hate that nobody really makes nice small cars with tons of options. I think the previous kia rio sx was probably the last fully equipped vehicle i seen. Had so many options. But nobody bought them so kia got rid of those options and package.

Personally i would love to see a slightly bigger mainly wider version of the sonic. (Suppose thats what the cruze is). But id like the styling to be more like the new trailblazer.

Im deff eyeing a hyundai elantra gt nline. But the new forte hatch also has me intrigue when it comes out.

Sure would have been cool to have a sonic 1LE.

 

[dannyg]

I like selling the Sonic. It's a great little car for the price. But the GM pencil pushers only look at the numbers. When you look at the stats from the first quarter it's surprising. Nationally for the first quarter Chevrolet car sales are off 18%. If you look at Sonic sales in the South Central Region CYTD -66.8%. If you look at available days supply, South Central has 184 days and on the National level it's 179 days. Granted GM counts vehicles in transit and in system when they figure those numbers. But when you look at Cruze sedan in South Central 226 available vehicles is a 360 day supply. It's a numbers game. Sad really

Hey that’s interesting, thanks for the info. Can I assume your dealership has little or no Sonic inventory these days? Let’s say there was 10 Sonics lined up, would you be able to sell them? What about the Cruze going away, do you think there will be more Sonics in inventory once the Cruze are gone?

What worries me is that people who want compact vehicles not called Trax are simply bypassing the Chevy dealers since they have almost zilch to offer. What do you think?? Sorry for all the questions...but I’ve never been a sales rep!