Automakers and auto dealers have taken this seriously in recent months after COVID-19. While production had stopped for some time, distributors had to remain open by adopting online sales, on-site service and road testing, and contactless delivery. These efforts helped keep retail sales in the first part of the year below “only” 19% compared to 2019 statistics, according to Kelley Blue Book.
To illustrate this, KBB states that the big “winners” among automakers so far this year are brands that have lost the least sales from year to year. Only 3 of them controlled deficits below 10%, namely Tesla (-2.6%), Mazda (-7.0%) Lincoln (-8.0%).
In terms of sales per segment, KBB says medium and compact SUVs and pickup trucks continue to dominate the industry, and in combination account for more than one part (52%) of all new vehicle sales. At the other end of the stopover, passenger car sales fell by 35.6% in the first six months of 2020, with small cars affected; Mini lost 40.5% of its business in the first six months of 2020, while Fiat recorded a 51.7% drop.
Perhaps surprisingly, electric vehicle sales fell by only seven percent, according to KBB data, probably backed by Tesla’s powerful sales physically and new products entering the Porsche and Audi market. Sales of the Chevrolet Bolt have increased by up to 1.1% so far this year, which may be a sign of increased interest in electric cars in the future. On the other hand, sales of plug-in hybrids and hybrids were not as good, falling by 40%.
Sales of vans remained strong overall, with the segment falling by 10.5% and intermediate models in specific waste less than 10% of sales during the year. While the Ford F-150 continues to dominate sales of full-size pickup trucks and the Toyota still leads the mid-size models, the Chevrolet Silverado has controlled to overtake the Ram pickup truck to take the place of the moment, while the Ford Ranger overcame the Chevrolet Colorado to take the two-seater number among the smaller models.
A positive point in the automotive industry so far this year can well be attributed to the tenacious tenor of the time. Sales of some of which are among the top non-public rewards (small convertibles) actually higher during the first part of 2020, with the Mazda MX-5 Miata up to a respectable 10.4 percent. With the maximum of the country closed for so long, the open road turns out to be on its way.
I am an experienced Chicago-based automotive journalist committed to providing you with information, opinions, recommendations and complaints at the right time to maximize your investments in the automotive sector. In
I am an experienced Chicago-based automotive journalist committed to providing information, opinions, recommendations and complaints at the right time to help you maximize your investments in the automotive sector. In addition to publishing on Forbes.com, I am a regular contributor to Carfax.com, Motor1.com, MyEV.com and writing about automotive topics for other national and regional publications and websites. My paintings also appear in newspapers in the United States, distributed through CTW Features.