Saab USA sales data - June 2009

US sales figures are out and whilst it's more of the same in terms of sales falls, it's also a little different in some respects.

To the numbers first:

Saab 9-3: There were 503 units of the 9-3 sold in June 2009, which is a 66.5% fall on the 1,442 sold in the same month last year (based on sales days). There have been 3,180 vehicles sold this year, which is a 63.2% fall compared with the number of 9-3s sold in the first 6 months of last year (8,631).

Saab 9-5: There were 99 units of the 9-5 sold this June, compared with 266 last year (down -64.3%). There have been 671 units of the 9-5 sold so far this year, down 55.8% from the 1,518 sold in the first 6 months of last year.

Saab 9-7x: There were 177 units of the 9-7x sold in June, up from the 162 sold in the same month last year. There have been 1,535 units of the 9-7x sold this year, which is down 20% from the first 6 months of last year (1,916).

All models combined:

June Total: 779 sales. Down by 60% for the month (1,872 for all models in June 2008)

2009 Total: 5,386 sales, down 55.4% from Jan-Jun 2008 (12,068)

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A couple of dot points

If you think that comparing sales with 2008 is scary, try comparing them with 2007, when the brand had 4,361 sales for the month.
Looking back, June 2008 was the first month when just about all brands had a significant fall in sales. The GFC was biting. GM, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Ford all had double digit losses for the month.
Whilst Saab sales were down this month, remember that they're getting almost zero promotion in the US right now.
Also, I received an inside look at a GM Premium internal video and I can tell you that Saab actually made their internal sales target for the month.

Hang in there, Saab dealers.

6 Comments

Karen | July 2, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply

"almost zero promotion"? too kind, you must be including spotting a Saab in tv show or older film in the U.S.

positive review of the 9-3XWD by the Examiner just popped up. Every little bit helps.

Karen | July 2, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply

Cadillac SRX offering 0% financing for 72 months, nice ad on Colbert Report just now.

raquettelaker2 | July 2, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply

Saab just needs to get some fresh products out there (they're coming). Then they need to finish off the K-Segg deal and publicize the crap out of that! Detach it from GM as much as possible!! Then sales will start increasing. Rapidly. I predict. :)

metz | July 2, 2009 2:06 PM | Reply

Saab has never had enough advertising in the U.S. I went to school at an automotive school with 4000 gear heads and about 3 of the guys I met knew what a Saab was. Thats just wrong. These are guys who can pick out a car by its headlights at night, and had no idea what kind of car I drove or anything about the motor. 99.9% of the sales issues in the U.S. is advertising. If Saab would spend the cash to get people to come LOOK AT and test drive these wonderful cars, many more would sell.

As an example- I know most of the sales/parts/techs at the local Saab/catty/hummer dealer, and one of the sales guys told me he had a CTS sold until the guy drove a 9-3 Aero. Guy bought the Aero instead.

Saabs can sell themselves, but people need to know they're around.

Matt

Paul Guinnessy | July 2, 2009 11:59 PM | Reply

And most of the promotions in the "72 hour sale" that GM is offering explicitly doesn't include Saab (yes I know its on the list but if you want a Pontiac G8 for example it says "discounts exclude Saab owners" or words to that effect).

Karen | July 3, 2009 6:09 AM | Reply

@Paul Guinnessy: suddenly seeing Saab "72 hour sale" internet ads, slogan is "Turbocharge Your Summer". clearance of 2008 and 2009 9-3's at 0% for 60 months, take delivery by July 7 (I think).