Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Chevrolet, GM
GM admits Malibu in short supply
The Chevrolet Malibu continues to do better than GM expected: the General moved 12,172 of the new model in December 2007, a 6.7% improvement over the same month last year. There are two factories currently building the car, and demand for the 2007 North American Car of the Year finalist is such that dealers still can't get enough of them.
It's a long way from the "we only expected to sell 500 Malibus in November" malarkey. The mid-sized segment champions probably aren't worried just yet, but they'll be watching. In December of '07, Toyota sold 38,831 Camrys, Honda sold 31,255 Accords, and Nissan sold 25,171 Altimas. The lack of Malibu inventory makes a good marketing and perception case, but GM won't want it to go on too long. The segment -- represented by what one Autoblog commenter called the "Camcordimabu" -- is highly competitive, and those buyers don't like to be told "Try us back in a month and we'll see if we can get you one."
Analysts say that what happens over the next few months will tell the tale. But really, this is about the next few years; the Camry and Accord have been doing around a thousand units a day, each, every single day for years. The Malibu will need to show it has that kind of endurance, and this is a good way to start. Still, GM better have a plan B in place to build as many Malibus as the market demands if it has any aspirations at all of swiping the Camry's title of Best-Selling Car in the U.S.
[Source: Seattle Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Ed 1:30PM (1/07/2008)
Oh how I wish I had the finances to get myself into one of these...
Reply
meshies 1:54PM (1/07/2008)
ditto.
There is something about this damn Malibu! I dont even like cars like this!
Louis Duran 5:19PM (1/07/2008)
@meshies
"There is something about this damn Malibu! I dont even like cars like this!"
Well... it is a damn nice looking car for the segment. I had a good look at it at the local Chevy dealer and even the LT2 trim with the 4 cylinder is very nice unlike an equivalent Camry LE which seems "cost reduced". The Malibu LTZ is even nicer. The only downsides for me are the tiny trunk opening and the lack of Bluetooth which will likely be rectified next year.
Anecdotally, I have not seen a single 2008 Malibu running around my fairly large urban area, so I don't think many have been sold here. In fact while I was at the dealer, the windows sticker had some sort of "market adjustment" line item on the price. If I remember correctly it was $1500 on the LT2 I looked at don't remember what it was on the LTZ. That market adjustment is likely due to the relative dearth of availability.
It would be definitely a car I would consider getting ... for my wife.
steve 4:41PM (1/10/2008)
That hideous looking thing could only possibly be sold in NA. Awkward rear light assembly and over the top grille.
Tim 1:32PM (1/07/2008)
Since Chevy sales are down overall for the month of December and Overall for 07 I suspect that many truck buyers are migrating to cars. Finally! I like the Malibu save for the rear taillights. GM less trucks more cars.
Reply
Mallory 1:40PM (1/07/2008)
Good for GM, this just shows what the domestics can do when they really want to. Now if they can just work the same magic on the next Cobalt replacement.
Reply
J.Crew 1:41PM (1/07/2008)
GM is on its way, it all starts here. Good job guys!
Reply
DCragtop 1:41PM (1/07/2008)
Go Chevy! If GM is smart though, they'll take this low-high volume opt. to equip/offer a nav system for the remainder of 08. I love this car (except for the rear lights) and it really is a great driving car. But it's missing one of the three biggest user creature comfort options in automobiles today and no nav system isn't going to steer buyers away from the Cams and Cords as fast as it should. Those December numbers are staggering for Cam/Cord. Still, this car can and does compete and I'm waiting for an SS version before jumping on board.
Reply
Mr. Oak 1:45PM (1/07/2008)
I guess, depending on how you look at it, this is a nice problem to have.
However, this should not continue to happen. Waiting list for the Enclave, waiting list for the 'Bu. I think it is safe to come into a launch with as many vehicles as you can, and adjust production up or down as needed.
In other words, increase the "start build" day by 30 days ahead of the "launch date". You need to be rolling as many cars as you can, not taking reservations.
Reply
Menice 1:47PM (1/07/2008)
sorry, I'm glad for GM this is doing well, but the back of this car cries 'i'm a lardass and my owner wishes they could afforded the Buick.'
Reply
Franz 1:48PM (1/07/2008)
I've never been a fan of GM vehicles, and always thought (with good reason) that the Japanese ruled this class. This is a very good effort by the General though. This car is very good, and finally a viable competitor to Accord, Camry and Altima. The sales numbers for those three are gonna be tough to beat though, but given a few years I'm sure it'll steal many more buyers away... especially if they prove reliable. Good job GM.
Reply
zack 1:48PM (1/07/2008)
last gen malibus were pretty good cars, just not up to par with some styling, but were very reliable, my fiance has one ('04) with a little over 90,000 miles and is still in very good shape with no more than average maintnance. the new malibu looks more expensive than it is, looks like it is doing well for Gm....Now lets just hope they keep it competitive, maybe a new concept to GM........
Where does this leave the Impala???? I could see if the Impala were RWD, but it's not!!
Reply
E 1:53PM (1/07/2008)
I'm rooting for GM and for all American car makers...However, I think GM will fail again by A. Dealers marking up prices and pissing me off into getting a Camry or B. By never being able to keep up with demand and again pissing me off into getting a Camry.
E.
Reply
david 7:52PM (1/07/2008)
I don't know how you buy cars but personaly, I know before going to the dealer I know what I want, what color, what options, what the dealer has in stock or what other dealers have, and a good idea how much I'm gonna pay. It's called the internet. If the dealer has a markup, I walk. If the dealer won't deal, I walk. If I can't find what I want, the dealer simply goes to his locator and finds it. If not, I order one. Time consuming? Yes. But it's worth the wait rather than being stuck with second fiddle. Or in Camry's case, a 35 gallon garbage can.
TriShield 1:55PM (1/07/2008)
Diehard GM fans try to spin this as a positive when in reality it's not, especially in the midsize sedan segment the Malibu competes in.
You can't get away from the Malibu's advertising, but you can't get one either. There are none rolling around here on the streets of the 5th largest city in the US. There are hardly any on the lots to look at. With so many excellent choices in this class why would anyone wait for a Malibu?
GM made a grave error in hyper promoting this car before they could provide a suitable supply and it is going to cost them sales. By this time next year they will be yesterday's news and dealers will be slashing prices just as they do on nearly everything GM makes whether it's really good or not.
GM is shooting themselves in the face just like they did the Enclave and the same thing will happen with the upcoming G8.
People want these cars but the dealers don't have any to sell. Stupid.
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 2:53PM (1/07/2008)
Yes. You're right. As the Wii has shown us, if you don't have enough to sell you automatically lose.
naggs 2:59PM (1/07/2008)
you can also add, ferrari and porsche to the list of complete failures, unable to meet demand for their product
and dont forget the GTR, which is sure to 'flop' ridiculously hard!
sheth 3:10PM (1/07/2008)
get your facts straight. THe Enclave just had its best sales month of the year in December so dont give us crap about people not being able to get one. As for none being on the streets I have seen 3 already in America's 6th largest city.
Note to autoblog and others: this car CANT outsell the camry and accord since there isnt enough capacity. Its estimated that GM can build 250k of these a year which is enough to threaten Altima but not Accord and Camry. GM has routinely sold more than 15k of the old model in previous years so rest assured they have the desire to exceed that with this car. Its a little too early to panic but the media has to turn any positive GM story into a negative sooner or later. How about we wait 6 months before calling this car a doomed effort? Three months out the gate and people are saying GM has blown this launch. I guess it would have been better to flood the market with cars without proven demand.
MemphisNET 3:40PM (1/07/2008)
You just don't like any good news on the domestic (North American) front do you?
zack 1:57PM (1/07/2008)
Am i the only one who thinks the tail lamps are cool looking? certainly better than the Accords? this coming from a 28 year old honda lover. if i needed and had 20k to spend on a 4cyl sedan, Malibu would be right up there.
who thinks this will do damage to Ford Fusion sales?
Reply