Dec 2020 Sales Thread
interesting, mercedes and lexus sold almost the exact same # of vehicles in 2020, putting aside the mercedes (sprinter) vans which is another 50k units (and no doubt highly profitable).
GM takes 2020 full-size pickup sales crown (when you combine GMC and Chevy)
It's no secret that 2020 was an unconventional year for auto sales. Extenuating circumstances or not, it was a year of upheaval even for ever-resilient (and ever-profitable) pickups, with General Motors taking the crown from Ford in the full-size segment.
The Ford F-Series still outsold every other full-size pickup nameplate in the country by a significant margin. It's only when you combine GM's Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra variants that you get a number that exceeds Ford's. This isn't really a new phenomenon, either. In fact, it was only somewhat recently that Ford took the overall full-size crown away from GM, and not only did Ford widen the gap in recent years, but Ram has once again become a legitimate challenger, even managing to outsell the Silverado by a healthy margin in 2019, but never coming close to the F-Series in terms of total volume.
But, 2020 being 2020, things got weird yet again. Ram remains relevant, of course, but Ford got caught with its pants down thanks to the one-two punch of COVID and the generational changeover of the core F-150 model, which resulted in a production interruption as the company's assembly facilities transitioned from building the old 2020 model to the new-for-2021. This perfect storm, as it turns out, was sufficient for GM to walk away with the full-size crown.
Full-size 2020 pickup sales:
There were similarly significant shakeups in the midsize truck segment. First, 2020 was the first full year of retail sales for the Gladiator pickup, which surged to fourth place behind the stalwart Tacoma, Ranger and Colorado. GM's combined sales of the Colorado and Canyon are good enough for second place by manufacturer, but nowhere close to what it would take to dethrone Toyota. Jeep's immediate impact on this segment is clear, and even if its volumes don't end up matching those of the Colorado or Ranger, it's obviously going to be a relevant player going forward.
Midsize:
The Ford F-Series still outsold every other full-size pickup nameplate in the country by a significant margin. It's only when you combine GM's Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra variants that you get a number that exceeds Ford's. This isn't really a new phenomenon, either. In fact, it was only somewhat recently that Ford took the overall full-size crown away from GM, and not only did Ford widen the gap in recent years, but Ram has once again become a legitimate challenger, even managing to outsell the Silverado by a healthy margin in 2019, but never coming close to the F-Series in terms of total volume.
But, 2020 being 2020, things got weird yet again. Ram remains relevant, of course, but Ford got caught with its pants down thanks to the one-two punch of COVID and the generational changeover of the core F-150 model, which resulted in a production interruption as the company's assembly facilities transitioned from building the old 2020 model to the new-for-2021. This perfect storm, as it turns out, was sufficient for GM to walk away with the full-size crown.
Full-size 2020 pickup sales:
- GM total: 847,110
- F-Series: 787,422
- Silverado: 594,094
- Ram: 563,676
- Sierra: 253,016
- Tundra: 109,203
- Titan: 26,439
There were similarly significant shakeups in the midsize truck segment. First, 2020 was the first full year of retail sales for the Gladiator pickup, which surged to fourth place behind the stalwart Tacoma, Ranger and Colorado. GM's combined sales of the Colorado and Canyon are good enough for second place by manufacturer, but nowhere close to what it would take to dethrone Toyota. Jeep's immediate impact on this segment is clear, and even if its volumes don't end up matching those of the Colorado or Ranger, it's obviously going to be a relevant player going forward.
Midsize:
- Tacoma: 238,806
- GM total: 121,248
- Ranger: 101,486
- Colorado: 96,238
- Gladiator: 77,542
- Frontier: 36,845
- Ridgeline: 32,168
- Canyon: 25,190
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: NY
Certainly for pickup trucks, its owners are more informed and discerning. However, the avg luxury SUV buyer of say the GX and QX may not know what BOF means. Certainly my dealer didnt say anything.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: NY
I wouldnt say irrelevant. The frame adds a certainly level of solidity, ruggedness and durability that you just dont get in something like the RX.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Maryland
Thats because of the lower end architecture of the RX. If you look at a higher end unibody crossover like say an X5 or X7 or GLS or Range Rover thats not the case.
Lexus Fanatic
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Id say Toyota and Lexus body on frame owners are more informed than most. There is a very strong following worldwide. They also still have BIG V8 engines or a large V6 in my new 4Runner...makes a big difference in feel. The Toyota and Lexus stuff have very high satisfaction rates.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,935
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From: NY
Id say Toyota and Lexus body on frame owners are more informed than most. There is a very strong following worldwide. They also still have BIG V8 engines or a large V6 in my new 4Runner...makes a big difference in feel. The Toyota and Lexus stuff have very high satisfaction rates.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: NY
I still dont get the same feel in higher end Lexus architectures in a GS or the LS460. I have ridden in an X5 before, maybe 5yrs ago, and I still felt the front passenger footwell flexing over bumps, although I'm not sure what model yr it was, they all look the same to me.
i've not driven one but it gets rave reviews and is 'solid'.
i think part of the perception of 'solid' feel with BOF comes because the body is separate from the frame so there is some can be some built in isolation to bumps, etc.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,838
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From: Maryland
I still dont get the same feel in higher end Lexus architectures in a GS or the LS460. I have ridden in an X5 before, maybe 5yrs ago, and I still felt the front passenger footwell flexing over bumps, although I'm not sure what model yr it was, they all look the same to me.
Lexus Test Driver
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,935
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From: NY
Is it really niche if you take all BOF together? They probably make up more than half of the total annual vehicles sales in the US.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
just occurred to me the x7 which outsells them all, is not body on frame.
i've not driven one but it gets rave reviews and is 'solid'.
i think part of the perception of 'solid' feel with BOF comes because the body is separate from the frame so there is some can be some built in isolation to bumps, etc.
i've not driven one but it gets rave reviews and is 'solid'.
i think part of the perception of 'solid' feel with BOF comes because the body is separate from the frame so there is some can be some built in isolation to bumps, etc.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 5,482
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From: N/A