So – drum roll, please – here are the latest U.S. sales totals for the plug-in challengers, since launching late last year:
- Volt: 1,536
- Leaf: 471
A few things to keep in mind: 1.) the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan have not yet affected sales numbers, but we may see an impact next month. 2.) Nissan is reserving most Leafs for domestic sales (over 5,000 have been made thus far). 3.) Both companies are selling more now than before. The Leaf sold 298 units in March vs. 67 in February; the Volt moved 608 in March vs. 281 in February.
You can read the both press releases announcing these numbers after the jump.
[Source: GM, Nissan]
2011-04-01
* Retail sales for Chevrolet cars increased 42 percent in Q1
* Camaro still America’s best-selling sports car, with 19,972 Q1 sales
* Total sales for trucks and crossovers continue to grow: Equinox up 42 percent, Traverse up 30 percent, and Silverado up 28 percent in Q1
DETROIT – Chevrolet posted a total of 148,197 sales in March, an 11 percent increase over the same month a year ago. That number includes an 18 percent gain in retail sales, as Chevrolet’s cars, trucks and crossovers continue to attract new customers.
Calendar year to date, Chevrolet has sold 416,505 vehicles, a 23 percent increase in total sales, while retail sales have climbed 37 percent for the year.
“Our first-quarter results show the strength of Chevrolet’s portfolio,” said Alan Batey, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. “We offer compelling vehicles for every customer’s needs – from the fuel efficiency of the Chevrolet Cruze Eco to the capability of the Silverado HD, to the iconic performance of the Camaro.”
For the first quarter of 2011, total sales of Chevrolet cars are up 16 percent, while sales to individual customers are up 42 percent from a year ago.
The Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu continue to record strong sales, accounting for a total of 98,950 sales – roughly one of every four Chevrolets sold in the first quarter.
The arrival of the new Camaro Convertible in late February has contributed to Camaro’s lead as the best-selling sports car in America. To date, a total of 19,972 Camaros have been sold.
A total of 1,210 Chevrolet Volts have been delivered in 2011, including 608 deliveries in March. In addition, approximately half of the 595 participating Volt launch dealers have taken delivery of their demonstration vehicles. These Volts will remain with the dealers for at least six months before being sold, ensuring customers will have the chance to test drive the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year.
For the first quarter, total sales of Chevrolet’s fuel-efficient crossovers climbed 36 percent, while retail sales were up 33 percent from a year ago.
That includes a 30-percent increase for the eight-passenger Chevrolet Traverse and a 42- percent gain for the five-passenger Equinox. Combined, these two vehicles accounted for a total of 69,598 sales this year.
Total sales for Chevrolet trucks and full-size utilities have climbed 25 percent so far in 2011, with retail sales up 35 percent.
Sales of the Silverado line continued to grow, with total sales up 9 percent in March – its fourteenth consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. For 2011, Silverado total sales increased 28 percent, while retail sales are up 37 percent.
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA REPORTS BEST SALES MONTH IN HISTORY
Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported March U.S. sales of 121,141 units versus 95,468 units a year earlier, an increase of 26.9 percent, and a record for any month in the company’s history. Nissan Division sales also set a new sales record, up 28.4 percent for the month at 109,854 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles rose 13.5 percent over the prior year, to 11,287 units.
Nissan North America also achieved record market share for the 2010 fiscal year, which ended March 31 with total sales of 965,699 units, up 17.3 percent from FY09’s sales of 823,565 units.
NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS
* Nissan Division posted a record March with 109,854 sales, an increase of 28.4 percent over 85,526 units sold in March 2010. This marks record sales volume for any month in the division’s history.
* Nissan Rogue also set an all-time volume record in March, with sales of 14,174 units up 68.8 percent over the prior year.
* Nissan Sentra sales rose 104.7 percent versus last year, with sales of 17,851 units.
* Market reception of the Nissan Juke continues to be enthusiastic, with 4,089 Juke sales posted in March.
* Nissan LEAF all-electric vehicle posted sales of 298 units, for a total of 452 units in the United States since its December launch.
“Nissan enjoyed our best month ever, with the foundation of our fuel-efficient vehicles such as Altima, Sentra and Rogue leading the way,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. “Despite market conditions, our full lineup of innovative cars, trucks and crossovers helped Nissan achieve this all-time record. Nissan is well-positioned to take advantage of the shifts in the market.”
INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS
* Infiniti today reported sales of 11,287 units for March, an increase of 13.5 percent versus 9,942 units a year earlier, marking the 14th straight month of double-digit sales gains for the Infiniti division.
* Infiniti G Line continued to grow, with G Sedan sales up 27.3 percent on sales of 5,119 units, and G Coupe sales increasing 14.5 percent, with sales of 1,890 cars.
* Infiniti QX56 full-size luxury sport utility vehicle set a new March record with sales of 1,355 units, up 30.2 percent.
NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. March 2011 had 27 selling days, while March 2010 had 26 selling days.
In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.
