Saturday, March 6, 2010

Camaro Sets Pace for the U.S. Sports Car Segment


Chevrolet Camaro extended its lead in the U.S. sports car segment in February, posting 6,482 total sales. This is a 21 percent increase over January results, and marks the ninth consecutive month that Camaro total sales outpaced sports car models including the Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z, and Dodge Challenger.

Consumers have bought nearly 75,000 Camaros since it was launched in early 2009, and demand continues to hold steady even in winter months.

“Traditionally, we expect to see a dip in sales for rear-wheel-drive performance cars over the winter,” says John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet Performance Cars marketing manager. “But, demand for Camaro shows no sign of slowing down, particularly in the Sun Belt” Texas, California and Florida account for about 25 percent of all Camaro retail sales, and six of the top 10 U.S. dealers for Camaro sales are located in Texas.

Importantly, Camaro continues to attract new customers to Chevrolet. Of Camaro buyers who traded-in a vehicle at the time of purchase, about half traded-in a non-GM vehicle.


Camaro Kicks Mustang’s Derriere. Again!
Nine months running, the original pony car loses the sales race?
by Ken Zino on Mar.05, 2010
Year-to date, it’s Camaro, 11,853 in sales and Mustang at 9,862.
More importantly from a trend line point of view, Chevrolet Camaro has now outsold the Ford Mustang for nine consecutive months – while being production constrained all the way.
Ford seems to be taking a “wait until next year” attitude?



GM’s Oshawa, Canada, Assembly Plant has been running Saturday overtime since June 2009 to keep up with demand for Camaro.
Where, oh where, is now retired Ford sales executive Bob Rewey, when Ford needs him, Mustang aficionados might ask?

With this ongoing rout, there is no doubt that Rewey, who arguably moved more metal than any other Ford sales executive since Lido Anthony Iacocca, would be on the phone with key dealers and pushing through the packages and promotions that would — at the very least – let Alan Batey, the new vice president, sales and service at Chevrolet, know that this ball game is going into extra innings.
Moreover, it’s not only the Mustang in Camaro’s rearview mirror. Such formidable competitors as the Nissan 370Z, at 1,372 sales YTD and Dodge Challenger, 3,828 YTD, are eating Camaro dust as well.


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