June 2009 Genesis sales

[YEH]

Any one else a little surprised at the drop in Genesis sales for June?

In June, Hyundai sold 1,838 Genesis sedans and coupes compared w/ 2,079 in May.

I would have expected an increase over 2,079 based on the expectation of increased sales for the coupe.

For the 1st quarter of this year (before the coupe was available), the sedan was selling at a respectable 1,500-1,600 clip.

Even if sales of the sedan has slipped to the 1,200-1,300 range, that means Hyundai only moved 600 or so coupes last month.

Either the demand for the coupe is simply not there despite the considerable hype leading up to debut of the coupe or there is an issue w/ supply (or dealers are losing potential customers by asking for a price too close to MSRP).

In contrast, Kia moved 3,228 units of the Soul in April, 3,885 in May and 2,811 in June.

 

[MattG]

Interesting. Of course, gas prices are creeping back up, and the mood concerning the economy in general is that things are going to take longer to improve (and the improvement will be slow when it happens, etc.) - so that might hurt things a bit.

Of course, since I have not bought yet, I'd like to see a dip just before I buy, so that I can get a good deal!

 

[Sim]

Comparing Genny to Soul is silly .......Soul is a rat-car.....ugly looking box rat car. (or a mouse - whatever they had in that commercial)

 

[jwaters943]

I quite like the Soul, but would fully expect it to sell in larger quantities since it's a $15k-$20k car.

As for the Genesis, no idea why the sales have dropped off, but it's quite clear that the coupe is not resonating w/ buyers. The new Camaro and Mustang are eating it's lunch. I think it's a great coupe in need of a few small revisions (e.g. bolder grille, 20-30 addt'l hp, nicer interior detailing around the AC vents and center console, and a Nav option).

 

[YEH]

Comparing Genny to Soul is silly .......Soul is a rat-car.....ugly looking box rat car. (or a mouse - whatever they had in that commercial)

I'm just comparing the monthly sales since they are both new Hyundai/Kia models (and as small, boxy "utes" go - the Soul is actually the best of the lot looks-wise).

I quite like the Soul, but would fully expect it to sell in larger quantities since it's a $15k-$20k car.

True - but the 2.0T Genesis Coupe, which is supposed to be the volume model, starts at $22k.

Besides, due to the price discrepancy (much less the type of auto), I wasn't expecting Genesis Coupe monthly sales to be in the 3k range - but a thousand or even 1,500 would have seemed plausible, esp. since Hyundai expected the coupe to be a bigger seller than the sedan.

As for the Genesis, no idea why the sales have dropped off, but it's quite clear that the coupe is not resonating w/ buyers. The new Camaro and Mustang are eating it's lunch. I think it's a great coupe in need of a few small revisions (e.g. bolder grille, 20-30 addt'l hp, nicer interior detailing around the AC vents and center console, and a Nav option).

While I agree about the shape of the grill, I'd hardly think the interior would be the stopping block (after all, it is at least handsomely designed, unlike the atrocious interior of the Camaro - which has an even cheaper feel).

Maybe Hyundai misread the market - thinking that the tuners comprised more of the market for this type of coupe than actually existed.

In that case, for the general public (i.e. - non-tuners), an extra 20-30 hp for the 2.0T may have made a difference - which really wouldn't have entailed much - a less restrictive exhaust system, a larger turbo unit and a reflash being all that was needed to bump up the HP by 40 HP or so.

 

[moose66]

All auto sales could be experiencing some fluctuation as folks explore the "cash for clunker" tax credit now available. The rules which are in place for the program may temporarily shift buying tendancies.

 

[ConceptVBS]

Its also partly due to the availability of the coupes. Hyundai is sending over the wrong version, (ie base, GT models) people are wanting the track models(which are few and far between). Hyundai needs to advertise more of the coupe, too.

 

[jwaters943]

I'd get the base GT model if for no other reason than the brown leather. Then I'd have to add the 19" wheels/tires and brembo brakes.

Damn Hyundai for offering such limited color combinations on the Gen Coupe!

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Genesis Sedan and Coupe sales need to start getting split up. This is ridiculous. When all is said and done, Hyundai is going to look bad when at the end of the year people are talking about the Genesis' final sales numbers and you have to subtract a significant percentage.

 

[wallymn]

Genesis Sedan and Coupe sales need to start getting split up. This is ridiculous. When all is said and done, Hyundai is going to look bad when at the end of the year people are talking about the Genesis' final sales numbers and you have to subtract a significant percentage.

Totally agree. The sedan and coupe don't fit in the same market. It would be like Nissan counting the 370z and maxima sales together because they share some parts.

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[MattG]

My guess would be that the sales are clumped together because Hyundai is looking to build the supporting evidence for spinning out a new brand (which, if memory serves, they want to do for 2015).

So, while I get that they simply want to have a huge sales number next to the word Genesis, I totally agree that for the rest of us, keeping those numbers distinct is important.

 

[dataguy]

Comparing Genny to Soul is silly .......Soul is a rat-car.....ugly looking box rat car. (or a mouse - whatever they had in that commercial)

Funny, that commercial is probably the only reason I'd ever know what a Soul was or looked like. Makes us laugh every time we are at the theater.