LAYOFFS. Sonic sales down

[SuperFudd]

"General Motors announced this morning that it's going to cuts jobs and slow production at two of its Detroit-based assembly plants. The Lake Orion plant, which currently builds the Chevrolet Sonic and the Buick Verano, will see 160 layoffs, while the Lansing Grand River Plant that builds the Cadillac ATS and CTS will see about 350."

Read more: GM to Lay Off Hundreds at Sonic, ATS Plants Due to Slow Sales

 

[Papasonic]

I'm not surprised. Every local dealer that I have visited has a poor selection of Sonic's; mostly low optioned sedans with the 1.8 automatic trans. I'm not suggesting that these aren't decent vehicles too, but I believe that if there were more models available, including more hatchbacks, with more desirable options, sales would improve.
Just because someone prefers a smaller fuel efficient vehicle doesn't necessarily mean they also want fewer features, options, and a lesser degree of quality materials, fit and finish.

 

[mitdr774]

I was not being overly picky about what I wanted in a Sonic. I had two main requirements. It had to be a 5 door and it had to be manual. This is a surprisingly hard combination to find on a dealer lot around me. Dealers are really good at stocking car packages that people dont really want. They count on people that dont have a lot of option just settling on whats on the lot.

 

[TN1.4T]

This does make sense though at this point in the model's lifespan. It's about time for a mid-cycle refresh for the Sonic. Plus with fuel costs starting to drop there is a larger market for vehicles with slightly lower fuel mileage, but more amenities etc. The issue is more about market saturation in the econobox market, and the ability to stand out. While we know the Sonic is a great car, the average consumer mostly sees car A, car B, etc. This on top of the bad press of the recalls certainly would hurt sales of the Sonic. I expect when they announce the mid-cycle refresh next year or so (possibly with the 1.6T and new tech), there will be a new push in sales. We'll have to wait and see. opcorn:

 

[sonic_braaappp]

i knew what i wanted when i got my sonic, the RS, with every option possible, figured if i'm gonna buy a new car might as well get one that has everything i want/need. now, if i had known about the new ATS-V, i would've waited to buy a new car... lol

 

[Natesriv]

hopefully they're deep enough in a new model cycle to continue...luckily the Sonic is built for many other markets too...so any tooling costs and such can be spread around..

I'm very eager to see the 2016 Sonic but that's still a year away at least...

 

[CheapFuneral]

I don't think a 1.6 will ever see us production. It doesn't fit the needs of the U.S. It's a kind of sporty kind of good economy. I also think by 2015 they would have already made it.

I think their laying off is a sign of a slightly increased economy and slightly decreased gas prices (not that either will last).


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[mitdr774]

hopefully they're deep enough in a new model cycle to continue...luckily the Sonic is built for many other markets too...so any tooling costs and such can be spread around..

I'm very eager to see the 2016 Sonic but that's still a year away at least...

Tooling costs would still be the same. Sonics built in Orion Assembly are only for the NAO market. The other markets are built in plants in other countries.

 

[CheapFuneral]

Nao?


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[mitdr774]

North American Operations

 

[Swordsmith]

The Sonic gets very little push, the car Chevy dealers want to sell is the Cruze, which on paper seems like a better deal; larger car with same or better fuel economy? But it is also a heavier car on the same engine, which means less sporty, and it's also a more expensive car on the same engine, which means less economical. No 5 door model so it wasn't on my list anyway, but even if it had been, I was not there to be upsold.

My dealer told me that dealership profit on a Sonic sale is about $48, unless they can push you into added warranty or other add ons. Now he was probably exaggerating, but the point is he couldn't really have cared less whether I bought the car or not, and the service department has done what they could to discourage me from ever buying another Chevy from them.

 

[laborsmith]

i knew what i wanted when i got my sonic, the RS, with every option possible, figured if i'm gonna buy a new car might as well get one that has everything i want/need. now, if i had known about the new ATS-V, i would've waited to buy a new car... lol

Has the pricing for the ATS-V been released? Given the price of the sport version of the coupe, I expect the V will approach $60K.

Laborsmith

 

[laborsmith]

I don't think a 1.6 will ever see us production. It doesn't fit the needs of the U.S. It's a kind of sporty kind of good economy. I also think by 2015 they would have already made it.

I think their laying off is a sign of a slightly increased economy and slightly decreased gas prices (not that either will last).


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

GM announced some time ago the new DI 1.6T currently I use in Germany would go in the Sonic but did not give a date. I speculate it will be available for the 2016 Sonic. I think a made that prediction on this forum about a year ago.

Laborsmith

 

[TN1.4T]

GM announced some time ago the new DI 1.6T currently I use in Germany would go in the Sonic but did not give a date. I speculate it will be available for the 2016 Sonic. I think a made that prediction on this forum about a year ago.

Laborsmith

I fully expect it to be in the 2016 model. Not sure yet if it will be sold side-by-side with the 1.4 or if it will replace that engine and the Sonic base 1.8 to stick around as the two engine choices. Best case would be for the 1.8 and 1.4 to stick around in the lesser models, and the 1.6 be the LTZ/RS specific engine.

 

[CheapFuneral]

GM announced some time ago the new DI 1.6T currently I use in Germany would go in the Sonic but did not give a date. I speculate it will be available for the 2016 Sonic. I think a made that prediction on this forum about a year ago.



Laborsmith

I know they said it, that doesn't mean it will really happen. When they start US production I'll believe it. I still think they would be much better off putting in the 2.0t down tuned a bit so it's not faster than more expensive cars. We could compete with the focus st and a few other cars in our class. But again I don't think it will ever happen.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[wbjones]

I was not being overly picky about what I wanted in a Sonic. I had two main requirements. It had to be a 5 door and it had to be manual. This is a surprisingly hard combination to find on a dealer lot around me. Dealers are really good at stocking car packages that people dont really want. They count on people that dont have a lot of option just settling on whats on the lot.

this … I wanted the color I wanted (cool blue) and I wanted the 1.4T 6MT … pretty much wide open beyond that … still took going 500+mi away to find it

 

[CheapFuneral]

They do put extra options people don't want or need, they do that to make a couple extra on the car. But they don't stock cars people don't want, they stock cars that are easier to sell. Most of our country can no longer drive MT, and not everyone likes bright colors.


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[Chuck Schick]

The dealers in my area had quite a few MT Sonics, I would say a third of the inventory. They had plane janes, 1.4 5 door, sedan, MT LT models etc.

I originally wanted a plane jane...cheaper than heck!

They still have a lot of 2014 models. makes me wish I waited another month!

 

[sonic_braaappp]

I don't think a 1.6 will ever see us production. It doesn't fit the needs of the U.S. It's a kind of sporty kind of good economy. I also think by 2015 they would have already made it.

I think their laying off is a sign of a slightly increased economy and slightly decreased gas prices (not that either will last).


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

i see your point, but as far as the RS goes, i think the 1.6T would be a huge benefit. with the small displacement of the current motor, combined with the RS gearing, the gas mileage quite frankly sucks. the point i keep going back to on this is, if i was able to EASILY get 39-41 mpg's out of my cobalt ss, why the heck would chevy make a little "fuel efficient" car, that struggles to get to 38 mpg's unless you're going downhill in neutral? the 1.4 (stock, not tuned) puts down power figures so small its struggling to keep moving, whereas a 1.6t would have more power and not have to work as hard.

my sonic weighs the same as my old cobalt, with half the power. GM honestly could've done better IMO lol

 

[sonic_braaappp]

Has the pricing for the ATS-V been released? Given the price of the sport version of the coupe, I expect the V will approach $60K.

Laborsmith

price hasn't been released yet to my knowledge, but its expected to be around 60k as you said