GM Canada Cancels the Chevrolet Sonic
The cancellation of the Chevy Sonic in Canada casts a shadow over its future prospects in the U.S.
How much longer can the Chevy Sonic survive in the U.S.?
Earlier this month, several sources reached out to GM Authority with a shocking bit of information: GM Canada was planning to discontinue the Chevrolet Sonic. According to those sources, the Sonic was no longer available in the Canadian market.
It didn’t take long for GM Canada to confirm that the Sonic was indeed being cut from its lineup.
New Chevy Car Additions: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro introduced to Chevy’s lineup
Ester Bucci, the Senior Communications Manager at GM Canada, reached out to GM Authority with a statement confirming the Sonic’s demise. One reason why the Sonic is on the chopping block is to prevent it and the Spark from stealing sales away from each other.
“The change will allow Chevrolet to focus our car strategy in areas where there is more customer interest, specifically the Spark in the Small Car segment where we see volume and market share opportunities moving forward,” Buicci stated.
Canadian sales of the Sonic have been on the decline for quite some time. In 2014, GM Canada delivered 8,036 Sonic vehicles. Last year, the number of Sonics sold only reached 2,823 units.
Chevy’s Other Subcompact Model: 2019 Chevrolet Spark
So, does the demise of the Sonic in Canada spell its doom in the U.S.? According to Katie Minter, a representative of Chevrolet Communications, that is not necessarily the case.
“We remain committed to the Chevrolet Sonic in the U.S.,” Minter told GM Authority.
Still, sales of the Sonic in the U.S. have also been on a rapid decline. Sonic sales peaked in 2014, with 93,518 units sold. In 2018, Chevrolet reportedly sold only 20,613 Sonic vehicles.
GM has already replaced the Sonic with various other vehicles in several international markets
Furthermore, Latin America recently swapped out the Chevy Sonic for the Chevrolet Onix hatchback. Likewise, China replaced the Sonic with the Chevrolet Cobalt.
The Chevrolet Sonic is one of Chevrolet’s only remaining sedans for the U.S. market. Its cancellation in Canada paints a rather bleak forecast for the subcompact car’s future.
News Source: GM Authority
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.