End of year USA sales numbers for Subaru

[Philip Procter]

According to Automotive News, Subaru sold the following numbers of
cars in the USA during 2004:

Baja: 7,316
Forester 58,424
Impreza 32,209
Legacy 89,453

Total USA 2004: 187,402

This translates to 14th place and 2.4% market share.

This is up slightly from 2003: (Total 186,819). In particular, Baja
sales were dismal, down some 30% from 2003!

This compares to the following in car sales (not including trucks,
which Subaru does not make):

Chevy: 908,239
Toyota: 865,832
Nissan : 449,880
Dodge: 261,124
Hyundai: 300,094
VW 228,196
Lexus: 136,130
MBenz: 194,149
Saturn: 123,497
Mitsubishi: 108,937
Lincoln: 78,974
Audi: 77,917
Scion 52,246
Saab: 38,159
Posche: 13,356
Aston Martin: 469
Rolls Royce 305


PS: The total sales (cars and trucks) for Ford (#1) was 2,766,169.
Slightly ahead of Chevy (#2) at 2,747,368 and Toyota (#3) at
1,672,862. Yep, Ford made 3x more trucks than cars and Chevy 2x as
many. Makes you understand why we still line up at the Saudi gas pumps
year after year!

Philip

 

[DR RASTIS FAF00FNIK]

According to Automotive News, Subaru sold the following numbers of
cars in the USA during 2004:

Baja: 7,316
Forester 58,424
Impreza 32,209
Legacy 89,453

Total USA 2004: 187,402

This translates to 14th place and 2.4% market share.

This is up slightly from 2003: (Total 186,819). In particular, Baja
sales were dismal, down some 30% from 2003!

This compares to the following in car sales (not including trucks,
which Subaru does not make):

Chevy: 908,239
Toyota: 865,832
Nissan : 449,880
Dodge: 261,124
Hyundai: 300,094
VW 228,196
Lexus: 136,130
MBenz: 194,149
Saturn: 123,497
Mitsubishi: 108,937
Lincoln: 78,974
Audi: 77,917
Scion 52,246
Saab: 38,159
Posche: 13,356
Aston Martin: 469
Rolls Royce 305


PS: The total sales (cars and trucks) for Ford (#1) was 2,766,169.
Slightly ahead of Chevy (#2) at 2,747,368 and Toyota (#3) at
1,672,862. Yep, Ford made 3x more trucks than cars and Chevy 2x as
many. Makes you understand why we still line up at the Saudi gas pumps
year after year!

Philip

Philip, thank you for posting the report. The shear numbers show whats
really happening. I can understand the low numbers for Scion (toyota)
because its new, also the numbers for Aston-Martin (a niche car) and
Rolls-Wretched (Self Explanitory).
But as I read(here and other) all the production/recall/failure problems
that Subaru has it's NO surprise that the likes of Chevy,Toyota,Dodge Nissan
and for god's sake even Hyundai (VW..thats a joke!) has blown the doors off
of Subaru.
Subaru's piss-poor mechanical failures,sloppy workmanship and lousy resale
value will haunt them for a long time.
As far as the "line up at the gas pump" Subaru's get some of the WORST
mileage in their class then a LOT of the other manufactures, thats a fact.

 

[Nicolaas]

Are the Outback numbers added with the Legacy numbers?

 

[jabario]

Is this on something???

Philip, thank you for posting the report. The shear numbers show whats
really happening. I can understand the low numbers for Scion (toyota)
because its new, also the numbers for Aston-Martin (a niche car) and
Rolls-Wretched (Self Explanitory).
But as I read(here and other) all the production/recall/failure problems
that Subaru has it's NO surprise that the likes of Chevy,Toyota,Dodge Nissan
and for god's sake even Hyundai (VW..thats a joke!) has blown the doors off
of Subaru.
Subaru's piss-poor mechanical failures,sloppy workmanship and lousy resale
value will haunt them for a long time.
As far as the "line up at the gas pump" Subaru's get some of the WORST
mileage in their class then a LOT of the other manufactures, thats a fact.

 

[Ragnar]

This is up slightly from 2003: (Total 186,819). In particular, Baja
sales were dismal, down some 30% from 2003!

Well, this is what happens when you build an ugly "car" with no market
niche. If they had removed the back seat and 2nd set of doors and made
a new version of the Brat, they would have had to build extra capacity
at the factory to keep up with demand.

 

[nicklebon]

Well, this is what happens when you build an ugly "car" with no market
niche. If they had removed the back seat and 2nd set of doors and made
a new version of the Brat, they would have had to build extra capacity
at the factory to keep up with demand.

No that's what happens when you don't advertise a car most people have
no idea exists. I've personally been responsible for selling 2 of
these,
aside from my own, to co-workers who had never heard of them till they
saw mine. Concerning your no niche comment, stop talking out of your
rear.

 

[Jim Stewart]

No that's what happens when you don't advertise a car most people have
no idea exists. I've personally been responsible for selling 2 of
these,
aside from my own, to co-workers who had never heard of them till they
saw mine. Concerning your no niche comment, stop talking out of your
rear.

I think you're being a little hard on Philip.

The Baja design tends to be quite revolting to
many Legacy and Imprezza owners, myself included.
I would *never* buy one. So if Subaru is marketing
it to that group of people, it's not a marketing
niche.

I think that we can both agree that it has to
be marketed to a different group than your typical
Legacy/Imprezza owner and that Subaru hasn't done
as much as it could to do that.

 

[John Gibson]

Currently have 3 Subis ...but they have moved out of my car buying niche.
I need a utility car at a reasonable price ...not a performance car with
low gas mileage, low resale value and high maintenance costs.
Is this a reflection of the GM purchase of a percentage of the company?

 

[DR RASTIS FAF00FNIK]

Currently have 3 Subis ...but they have moved out of my car buying niche.
I need a utility car at a reasonable price ...not a performance car with
low gas mileage, low resale value and high maintenance costs.
Is this a reflection of the GM purchase of a percentage of the company?

Nope....."GM" and "GMAC" are run with a dollar sign in mind. They will pick
up car finance where others won't even think of going.
It's kind of like the 2 or 3 companies that will still finance a
mobile/manufactured home without at least 15% down.
If the financial venture fails, it's a major "writeoff" for the
lender....something they sometimes need badly. This is something you and I
can not do easy.
If you make a ton of money selling Suburbans,Hummers,Tahoe,Envoy's...it's
good to have a loss too..helps to balance the books

 

[Philip Procter]

I think you're being a little hard on Philip.

The Baja design tends to be quite revolting to
many Legacy and Imprezza owners, myself included.
I would *never* buy one. So if Subaru is marketing
it to that group of people, it's not a marketing
niche.

I think that we can both agree that it has to
be marketed to a different group than your typical
Legacy/Imprezza owner and that Subaru hasn't done
as much as it could to do that.

Actually, Jim, I didn't make that comment, I just posted the numbers.
It's tough to keep up with multiposted messages.

In the same issue, there was an interview with one of the senior
managers of Subaru who admitted the Baja was not doing well, but would
be kept in the catalog. Considering the shared parts, they're probably
still making money even at these volumes.

Philip

 

[Jim Stewart]

Actually, Jim, I didn't make that comment, I just posted the numbers.
It's tough to keep up with multiposted messages.

In the same issue, there was an interview with one of the senior
managers of Subaru who admitted the Baja was not doing well, but would
be kept in the catalog. Considering the shared parts, they're probably
still making money even at these volumes.

Right you are. I guess it's nickelbon...

 

[jabario]

The Baja failed because Subaru tried to get the active youth to buy it
but only sold it at foirst loaded with leather at 26000 dollars. No
college/jiust out will pay that much when the element, and other cars
were a lot less and promoted the active lifestyle

 

[Kar Klean]

I firmly believe after reading reviews and discussions on this and other
boards that the Baja is a love/hate vehicle.
Subaru did no advertising with the Baja and has let it languish in limbo. If
it does become a discontinued model they have only themselves to blame. I
love mine, but do wish they had made better engineering decisions.

 

[Ron Joiner]

Philip, thank you for posting the report. The shear numbers show whats
really happening. I can understand the low numbers for Scion (toyota)
because its new, also the numbers for Aston-Martin (a niche car) and
Rolls-Wretched (Self Explanitory).
But as I read(here and other) all the production/recall/failure problems
that Subaru has it's NO surprise that the likes of Chevy,Toyota,Dodge Nissan
and for god's sake even Hyundai (VW..thats a joke!) has blown the doors off
of Subaru.
Subaru's piss-poor mechanical failures,sloppy workmanship and lousy resale
value will haunt them for a long time.
As far as the "line up at the gas pump" Subaru's get some of the WORST
mileage in their class then a LOT of the other manufactures, thats a fact.

Plonk!

 

[Nicolaas]

I agree with you that the Baja is a love it or hate it vehicle. I love the
concept, but I hate the looks. In fact, I have always hated the looks of
Subaru's. I liked the redesign of the Outback though. So I bought one. I
also like the Tribeca that will arrive later this year.

 

[tom]

any reason the numbers for honda and mazda are missing?