The Year's Worst-Selling Cars + more : )
#1
12-12-2010, 05:10 AM
The Year's Worst-Selling Cars + more : )
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The Year's Worst-Selling Cars
While most carmakers are enjoying gains from last year's dismal sales levels, the bounce is not universal.
By Joann Muller
After bottoming out in 2009, auto industry sales are slowly recovering. The U.S. will sell about 11.5 million cars and light trucks this year, up from 10.4 million in 2009. And the news only gets better: IHS Automotive forecasts sales of 12.8 million vehicles in 2011, and 17.1 million by 2015.
Total light vehicle sales are up 11.1% through November, with many brands beating the trend and gaining market share: Buick is up 53.5%, Cadillac is up 38%, Infiniti is up 26% and Ford, Hyundai and Jeep are each up 23%.
MORE AT FORBES.COM
Smart ForTwo
Forbes studied industry sales figures through November to cull a list of the year's worst-selling vehicles. We tossed out brands like Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer that are being killed, and didn't count vehicles that are being discontinued like the Chrysler PT Cruiser or Kia Rondo. We also excluded cars that we know are in the midst of a model life cycle change because sales typically fall as automakers are trying to clear out the old design before ramping up production of the new one.
We found that practically the entire Suzuki lineup is in the doldrums, lost amid tougher competition. Sales are down 42% for the year overall, with vehicles like the compact SX4, Grand Vitara SUV and Equator pickup dying on the vine for lack of resources. But there's reason to hope: The new Kizashi mid-sized sedan has been well-received, and Suzuki plans to launch a new advertising campaign on Christmas. It's working to refresh its lineup, too. After ending its long-term relationship with General Motors, the Japanese carmaker is now in talks with Volkswagen about co-developing new vehicles.
Other poor performers include the fuel-sipping Smart ForTwo, which was all the rage in 2008, when gas was $4 a gallon, but has endured a two-year sales collapse. The quirky two-seater from Germany's Daimler AG is down 60% this year, on top of a 41% decline in 2009. Penske Automotive Group, which distributes the vehicle in the U.S., is now testing Car2Go, a car-sharing concept for Smart, and plans to market an electric Smart soon.
Small cars in general aren't selling as well now that gas prices have fallen and pickups and larger vehicles are making a comeback. It doesn't help if your company has taken a beating on quality issues, either. Toyota's Yaris subcompact, for instance, is down 37.6% and its Scion xD is down 31%. Both are about two years old, and face stiff competition in a newly crowded market segment. They've been tarnished, too, by Toyota's widely publicized quality recalls. Overall, Toyota sales are down 0.8% so far this year.
Also struggling to stand out from the crowd is the Mazda Tribute, a poor stepchild in Mazda's lineup of snappy coupes and sports cars. It's based on the Ford Escape crossover, but pales in comparison because it hasn't been updated with some of Ford's appealing high-tech features. Consumers have figured out they might as well buy the Escape.
In this economy, nobody really needs a sports car. Thus, the sports car segment is suffering. The Mazda RX-8 is down 50% from a year ago, and the Porsche Cayman is down 31%. Porsche hopes the newly introduced Cayman R, featuring Porsche's most-powerful mid-engine, will add a little excitement to boost sales.
5 of the Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles
Mazda RX-8
Sales decline: -50%
Even $30,000 sports cars aren't selling when people are worried about their jobs.
Smart ForTwo
Sales decline: -61%
The quirky two-seater was popular in 2008, when gas was $4 a gallon, but now that fuel prices have moderated, sales have collapsed. Penske Automotive Group, which distributes the vehicle in the U.S., is now testing Smart in Car2Go, a car-sharing concept, and plans to market an electric version soon.
Subaru Tribeca
Sales decline: -61%
Subaru's been on a tear lately, but the ungainly Tribeca crossover SUV hasn't really been part of the success story. It's an also-ran in the crowded crossover market. Where Subaru stands out is with its four-wheel-drive cars and wagons.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Sales decline: -42%
This crossover SUV has grown long in the tooth, and can't compete in what is one of the hottest segments.
Suzuki SX4
Sales decline: -47%
Refreshed a year and a half ago, the SX4 just gets lost amid the competition and lack of advertising support.
Click here to see the full list of The Year's 10 Worst-Selling Cars
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The Year's Worst-Selling Cars
While most carmakers are enjoying gains from last year's dismal sales levels, the bounce is not universal.
By Joann Muller
After bottoming out in 2009, auto industry sales are slowly recovering. The U.S. will sell about 11.5 million cars and light trucks this year, up from 10.4 million in 2009. And the news only gets better: IHS Automotive forecasts sales of 12.8 million vehicles in 2011, and 17.1 million by 2015.
Total light vehicle sales are up 11.1% through November, with many brands beating the trend and gaining market share: Buick is up 53.5%, Cadillac is up 38%, Infiniti is up 26% and Ford, Hyundai and Jeep are each up 23%.
MORE AT FORBES.COM
- » Pics: The Year's 10 Worst-Selling Cars
- » The Year’s Bestselling Cars
- » The Ugliest Cars Of 2010
- » Year-End Car Buying Traps To Avoid
Smart ForTwoForbes studied industry sales figures through November to cull a list of the year's worst-selling vehicles. We tossed out brands like Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer that are being killed, and didn't count vehicles that are being discontinued like the Chrysler PT Cruiser or Kia Rondo. We also excluded cars that we know are in the midst of a model life cycle change because sales typically fall as automakers are trying to clear out the old design before ramping up production of the new one.
We found that practically the entire Suzuki lineup is in the doldrums, lost amid tougher competition. Sales are down 42% for the year overall, with vehicles like the compact SX4, Grand Vitara SUV and Equator pickup dying on the vine for lack of resources. But there's reason to hope: The new Kizashi mid-sized sedan has been well-received, and Suzuki plans to launch a new advertising campaign on Christmas. It's working to refresh its lineup, too. After ending its long-term relationship with General Motors, the Japanese carmaker is now in talks with Volkswagen about co-developing new vehicles.
Other poor performers include the fuel-sipping Smart ForTwo, which was all the rage in 2008, when gas was $4 a gallon, but has endured a two-year sales collapse. The quirky two-seater from Germany's Daimler AG is down 60% this year, on top of a 41% decline in 2009. Penske Automotive Group, which distributes the vehicle in the U.S., is now testing Car2Go, a car-sharing concept for Smart, and plans to market an electric Smart soon.
Small cars in general aren't selling as well now that gas prices have fallen and pickups and larger vehicles are making a comeback. It doesn't help if your company has taken a beating on quality issues, either. Toyota's Yaris subcompact, for instance, is down 37.6% and its Scion xD is down 31%. Both are about two years old, and face stiff competition in a newly crowded market segment. They've been tarnished, too, by Toyota's widely publicized quality recalls. Overall, Toyota sales are down 0.8% so far this year.
Also struggling to stand out from the crowd is the Mazda Tribute, a poor stepchild in Mazda's lineup of snappy coupes and sports cars. It's based on the Ford Escape crossover, but pales in comparison because it hasn't been updated with some of Ford's appealing high-tech features. Consumers have figured out they might as well buy the Escape.
In this economy, nobody really needs a sports car. Thus, the sports car segment is suffering. The Mazda RX-8 is down 50% from a year ago, and the Porsche Cayman is down 31%. Porsche hopes the newly introduced Cayman R, featuring Porsche's most-powerful mid-engine, will add a little excitement to boost sales.
5 of the Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles
Mazda RX-8Sales decline: -50%
Even $30,000 sports cars aren't selling when people are worried about their jobs.
Smart ForTwoSales decline: -61%
The quirky two-seater was popular in 2008, when gas was $4 a gallon, but now that fuel prices have moderated, sales have collapsed. Penske Automotive Group, which distributes the vehicle in the U.S., is now testing Smart in Car2Go, a car-sharing concept, and plans to market an electric version soon.
Subaru TribecaSales decline: -61%
Subaru's been on a tear lately, but the ungainly Tribeca crossover SUV hasn't really been part of the success story. It's an also-ran in the crowded crossover market. Where Subaru stands out is with its four-wheel-drive cars and wagons.
Suzuki Grand Vitara Sales decline: -42%
This crossover SUV has grown long in the tooth, and can't compete in what is one of the hottest segments.
Suzuki SX4 Sales decline: -47%
Refreshed a year and a half ago, the SX4 just gets lost amid the competition and lack of advertising support.
Click here to see the full list of The Year's 10 Worst-Selling Cars
Recent Articles
Fuel-Efficient Cars
Avoid These 5 Used Cars (Plus 5 to Buy)
Car paint duel: Silver, black battle for top choice
The Ugliest Cars of 2010
Resale Rankings: Best New Cars and Trucks
Best Car Deals: December 2010
#2
12-12-2010, 08:55 AM
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Monte Of The Month -- November 2010
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I think that it's more interesting that the article shows 'why' the cars aren't selling rather than just point out the sales deficit. Good article.
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