GMC Acadia Sales Decrease 12 Percent To 25,128 Units In Q4 2018 - GM Authority

GMC Acadia sales decreased in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the fourth quarter of 2018.

GMC Acadia Sales - Q4 2018 - United States

In the United States, GMC Acadia deliveries totaled 25,128 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 12 percent compared to 28,498 units sold in Q4 2017.

During the complete 2018 calendar year, Acadia sales decreased about 21 percent to 88,621 units.

MODEL	Q4 2018 / Q4 2017	Q4 2018	Q4 2017	YTD 2018 / YTD 2017	YTD 2018	YTD 2017
ACADIA	-11.83%	25,128	28,498	-20.68%	88,621	111,726

GMC Acadia Sales - Q4 2018 - Canada

In Canada, GMC Acadia deliveries totaled 734 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 28 percent compared to 1,015 units sold in Q4 2017.

During the complete 2018 calendar year, Acadia sales were flat at 0 units.

MODEL	Q4 2018 / Q4 2017	Q4 2018	Q4 2017	YTD 2018 / YTD 2017	YTD 2018	YTD 2017
ACADIA	-27.68%	734	1,015	*	0	0

GMC Acadia Sales - Q4 2018 - Mexico

In Mexico, GMC Acadia deliveries totaled 241 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 24 percent compared to 318 units sold in Q4 2017.

During the complete 2018 calendar year, Acadia sales decreased about 17 percent to 1,361 units.

MODEL	Q4 2018 / Q4 2017	Q4 2018	Q4 2017	YTD 2018 / YTD 2017	YTD 2018	YTD 2017
ACADIA	-24.21%	241	318	-17.42%	1,361	1,648

2017 GMC Acadia media drive 011

Competitive Sales Comparison

GMC Acadia sales performance places the crossover in 8^th place in its competitive set in terms of overall Q2 2018 sales volume out of 17 competitors. The model was outsold by a significant margin by its primary rivals, the Jeep Grand Cherokee (see Jeep Grand Cherokee sales), Ford Explorer (see Ford Explorer sales), Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, as well as its corporate cousin – the Chevrolet Traverse, which shares a larger version of the Acadia’s C1 vehicle architecture (see Chevy Traverse sales), Ford Edge (see Ford Edge sales) and the Hyundai Santa-Fe.

The Acadia outsold all other segment contenders, including the Kia Sorento, Nissan Murano, the all-new Subaru Ascent, Nissan Pathfinder, Volkswagen Atlas (see VW Atlas sales), Dodge Durango (see Dodge Durango sales), Mazda CX-9 (see Mazda CX-9 sales), and Mitsubishi Outlander. The Chevrolet Blazer recorded 27 deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2018, since it was only available for a few days prior to the close of the quarter.

Sales Numbers - Midsize & Full-Size Mainstream Crossovers - Q4 2018 - United States

MODEL	Q4 2018 / Q4 2017	Q4 2018	Q4 2017	YTD 2018 / YTD 2017	YTD 2018	YTD 2017
GRAND CHEROKEE	-2.01%	58,255	59,451	-6.56%	224,908	240,696
EXPLORER	-11.74%	56,316	63,809	-4.34%	227,732	238,056
HIGHLANDER	+13.43%	43,673	38,502	+13.32%	244,511	215,775
PILOT	-7.80%	39,714	43,076	+25.41%	159,615	127,279
TRAVERSE	+14.13%	39,536	34,642	+18.65%	146,534	123,506
EDGE	-7.11%	35,184	37,876	-5.95%	134,122	142,603
SANTA FE	-25.18%	28,069	37,516	-12.11%	117,038	133,171
ACADIA	-11.83%	25,128	28,498	-20.68%	88,621	111,726
SORENTO	-0.97%	22,154	22,371	+8.19%	107,846	99,684
MURANO	-14.70%	20,322	23,825	+8.88%	83,547	76,732
ASCENT	*	19,631	*	*	36,211	0
PATHFINDER	-10.07%	17,398	19,346	-16.67%	67,550	81,065
ATLAS	+12.00%	16,675	14,888	+120.06%	59,677	27,119
DURANGO	+2.03%	16,406	16,080	-4.09%	65,947	68,761
CX-9	-8.69%	7,073	7,746	+9.40%	28,257	25,828
OUTLANDER	-25.26%	6,842	9,155	+6.63%	37,652	35,310
BLAZER	*	27	*	*	27	0
TOTAL	-0.96%	452,403	456,781	+4.72%	1,829,795	1,747,311

The mainstream mid- and full-size crossover segments, comprised of CUVs with a starting price in the vicinity of $30,000, saw sales decrease 1 percent in Q4 2018 and increase nearly 5 percent during the complete 2018 calendar year.

2017 GMC Acadia media drive 002

The GM Authority Take

The ongoing slide in GMC Acadia sales continued in the fourth quarter of 2018, as the midsize crossover saw one of the biggest drops in sales volume in its segment. In fact, Acadia sales fell much faster than the segment average for the quarter (12 percent drop for Acadia vs. 1 percent drop for the segment), and even faster still for the 2018 calendar year (20 percent drop for Acadia vs. 5 percent boost for the segment).

The rather steep decline in Acadia deliveries is highly concerning, especially as it relates to the segment’s overall sales growth. In other words, not only are Acadia sales not keeping step with their segment, but they’re actually falling behind.

We attribute the ongoing drop in Acadia sales volume to the following potential factors:

A relatively new and attractive product that’s suffering from packaging issues that make it less-than-competitive when ti comes to price and features. Some examples:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Pilot offer a V6 engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission (Jeep) or 9-speed transmission (Honda) at roughly the same starting price as the Acadia, which offers a significantly less powerful 2.5L I4 engine and a less advanced 6-speed automatic transmission
- The Volkswagen Atlas and Mazda CX-9 offer significantly more cabin refinement compared to the Acadia, even in range-topping Acadia Denali trimmings
- A refreshed, 2020 GMC Acadia is on the way with various noteworthy updates. However, they do not seem to address these core issues for entry-level models.
First-generation Acadia owners with a preference for a model the size of that first-gen version are switching to a larger vehicle, such as the Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Durango, etc.

As car buyers continue to switch from sedans to crossovers, ever-decreasing GMC Acadia sales represent a not-insignificant disappointment as well as a wasted business opportunity. It’s unclear what, if anything, General Motors and GMC are planning to do to change this turn of events. We don’t have much confidence in the 2020 Acadia refresh helping to turn around the negative sales trend. What’s more, things will only get worse as both Kia and Hyundai introduce two all-new, full-size CUVs with three rows of seating.

About The Numbers

All percent change figures compared to GMC Acadia Q4 2017 sales, except as noted
In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q4 2018 and 76 selling days in Q4 2017

Q2 2018 GM sales results:

U.S. GM Q2 2018 sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 Buick sales results
- U.S. Q2 2018 GMC sales results
GM Canada Q2 2018 sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Cadillac sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 Buick sales results
- Canada Q2 2018 GMC sales results
GM China Q2 2018 sales results
GM Korea Q2 2018 sales results:
- Chevrolet Korea Q2 2018 sales results
- Cadillac Korea Q2 2018 sales results

2017 GMC Acadia

About GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia is a mid-size crossover utility vehicle (CUV). It is the largest GMC crossover currently offered, slotting above the compact GMC Terrain.

The current model was introduced for the 2017 model year and represents the second generation of the Acadia nameplate. It rides on the GM C1 platform shared with the Cadillac XT5. It is expected that the upcoming, future Chevrolet Blazer will ride on the same platform. Meanwhile, the second-generation Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave use a longer-wheelbase variant of the same architecture.

Compared to its first-generation predecessor, the second-gen Acadia is an all-new vehicle that is one size segment smaller, while also being sleeker, more modern, more tech-laden and much lighter. Despite its smaller size, the second-gen Acadia manages to retain three rows of seating and generous cargo space.

For the 2018 model year, the Acadia got a new color, automatic heated steering wheel in place of the manual heated steering wheel, Tire Fill Alert, some new wheels on the SLT-1 All Terrain model, as well as broader availability of the 3.6L V-6 engine and All-Terrain package.

For the 2019 model year, the Acadia receives several new colors, Express Up and Down window controls for the driver's-side controls as standard on the SLE-2 and SLT-1 trims, the expanded availability of the Ebony interior color with the All-Terrain package on the SLT trim level and the introduction of the Acadia Black Edition.

The Acadia Black Edition was introduced for the 2019 model year

A midcycle refresh arrives for the 2020 model year that delivers updated styling, the new GM 9-speed automatic transmission, a new turbo-charged 2.0L I-4 LSY engine, a new AT4 model that replaces the Acadia All Terrain, interior updates, and various other improvements.

The GMC Acadia is built exclusively at the GM Spring Hill factory in Tennessee operated by GM USA.