Chevrolet's Malibu Sets New Record for Mid-Size Car

A Malibu is faster than a Lamborghini. Bet the house. Or in today’s environment, bet your house from 2006. The Lamborghini Gallardo goes from 0-60 in 3.95 seconds. The Chevrolet Malibu does it in 6.5 seconds. Still, the Malibu is faster. But I am not talking about mph. I am talking about shopping activity and Chevrolet has seen the Malibu go from 67,921 new vehicle prospects in October to 236,011 in December. That is an increase of 247%, becoming the number 1 shopped mid-size car three months in a row, including January. This is the first time a domestic mid-size has held the number 1 spot for three consecutive months – ever.

Last month my colleague – Powder Puff Ninny – shared that the Malibu may just be the chosen one in breaking through to import buyers of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Well, before we get too far down the road let’s take a look at the quality of new vehicle prospects that Malibu is attracting. In other words, how serious are they about actually purchasing a Malibu and how does it compare to the Asian juggernauts?

Compete tracks monthly new vehicle prospects, and since the Malibu launch the results have been a proverbial hockey stick.

But, what types of new vehicle prospects are we talking about?

Since its launch, Malibu has attracted more browsers. Accord attracted browsers early in its launch and over time, by year-end, they have become more engaged. Overall, Accord has attracted more engaged new vehicle prospects than Malibu.

Is this bad? No. It does suggest, however, that the folks at GM have figured out how to entice consumers to consider the Malibu. The next step, and one that has proven difficult in the past, is to convince consumers to buy the Malibu. Only time will tell as we track this over the upcoming months. The one thing we do know for certain is you can tell all your friends that a Malibu is faster than a Lamborghini – and own a new house.

Comments

[emellis]

American heavy industry is alive and well. The last twenty years have not been easy. But lessons have been learned, problems have been solved, and the reports of America's demise as a top industrial power are greatly exaggerated. I even heard the other day that GE is insourcing something to a plant in Kentucky that was previously made in China.

[REBEL]

Sure is great to read something TRULY POSITIVE about an American product and the fact that it is from the U.S. manufacturing sector is very welcome news for the American economy. Now if GM uses this success to spring back to being a competitor for the world's #1 Auto manufacturer THAT will be a sorely needed tonic for the U.S. economy.

[cheesecake]

i recently got a pontiac when i sent my car for some repairs and i am sad to report, no improvement had been made. they just repackaged the vehicle with new looks and bells and whistles.
just too much bureaucracy.

[User 158164]

To capitalize letters you hold the shift key down on either side of the keyboard. This will help while you tell stories about the imaginary car you bought.

Study after study has shown that for years there has been no appreciable difference in quality between the US manufacturers and the Japanese. "Toyota Quality" is a well cultivated myth reinforced by people who will not admit that when they bought Japanese they got no better.

Our economy is sliding into the ditch and tens of thousands of Japanese car owners are losing their homes and don't know why.

It's simple. You build wealth by making things. We have decided to have other people make things for us, so we are losing our wealth.

Now I will be flamed by the self hating Americans who will declare that all things Japanese are better. Of course they are, who wants to buy a product made by someone like you?

Meanwhile I have a 1990 Chevy out here with 250,000 miles on it and the original drive train. More American junk.

Read the latest news? Stores now want Euros instead of dollars. Keep buying Japanese, maybe someday we will qualify for foriegn aid from them.

[10penn]

+1

Finally, someone's got it!

WAKE UP AMERICA!!

[Alpha Seeker]

Sorry, but noone can beat the Japanese in car making. I think not only Malibu, but the entire American car industry should stop working and start doing Apple products instead.

[PremierCitoyen]

User 158164, you are my hero. I like the way you talk.
Alpha Seeker, what a risible comment. Apple is cool in their own American way. Even the Japanese can't get enough of Apple. So give GM a chance to be cool too.
Remember, Americans are the inventors of everything the Japanese have built upon. They're a society of re-engineering engineers-- which is a good thing; it's creative, but not groundbreaking.
Why would you do what the republicans want you to do? Gee, let's support the expansion of free trade and the integration of foreign markets into our economy. Sounds like a plan. So... where's my free health care? Japan doesn't seem to have a problem with that.

[magnacarta]

The last 3 cars i have bought new have been a 98 Accord EX. A 2000 Subaru Ltd Outback and a 2006 Odyssey EXL. There were some tradeoffs vs Detroit. Better gas mileage and more reliable in all 3. Better resale, lower maintenance and more comfortable in 2 of the 3. Now admitedly I lived in Michigan when I bought the 1st 2 and in VA for the last one. So I guess I was prejudiced. The Accord was made in Marysville, Ohio. Got 34 MPG and never broke untill at 200,000 my daughter recked it. The Subaru in Indiana and The Odyssey in Canada so the last one was an import. Nothing the American manufacturers were making compared, and I tested them all. Last but, not least. As long as the unions continue to support the democrats who want to enslave me I will buy anything I can that is not union made.

[PremierCitoyen]

You make a point, magnacarta. Many of the Japanese manufacturers, and now even the Korean manufacturers do assemble their vehicles in the United States. However, they are still made from foreign components. In most all Japanese cars, it's difficult to find a transmission that is not made in Japan. Honda imports many of their auto parts. I invite you to visit www.hondatrading.com/ to see for yourself.
Even if some of the components in the vehicles are manufactured in the United States (air bags, etc.), the corporations that manufacture these components for the Japanese Automakers are Japanese Companies as well. Aisin, for example, is the main parts supplier to Toyota. Regardless of where these cars or components are being made, the money is still finding it's way back to Japan, and His Majesty the Emperor Akihito. The only money that stays here is the money that goes into the workers' pockets- which is great; don't get me wrong. Still, none of that money is being invested in American infrastructure nor is any money going into American Research & Development. I believe it was the Asahi Shimbun (Japanese newspaper) that had a quote in it stating that, "America is the Japanese automakers' cash-cow." We serve as their primary research entity, and they then continue to develop and redesign products from the money we give them.
The only incentives the Japanese Automakers have to produce vehicles in the United States are those that we offer them. Mid-western and Southern states have now formed a symbiotic relationship with the Japanese by offering them years and years of tax abatements to come to their state and build an auto plant. The states create jobs, and the Japanese can save money by using non-union workers and by being able to deliver the vehicles to dealers over a much shorter distance. Most recently Hyundai took advantage of this proposition in Alabama, and Kumho tires did the same in Georgia.
Granted, your cars may have lasted a long time, but please don't try to make it seem as if they are not foreign because they are. The more money that Americans spend on foreign cars, the less money that goes into American R&D for American Companies. Things can't get better without R&D-- Japanese cars are a prime example of that. But this is America, and we are free to buy what we want. It would be silly of us to implement laws like those in the EU, Japan and Korea which work to aid the selling national goods over foreign or imported items. Wouldn't it?
Arigato gozaimasu for your time.

[yankees222]

The Chevrolet Equinox is made in Canada, the transmission is from Japan and the engine is from China. That's right, China. Volvo, Mazda, Land Rover and Jaguar are all owned by Ford. This isn't the 1950's. Buy American does not mean the same thing it meant 50 years ago. Foreign competition has resulted in increased quality, better warranties, and lower prices for all consumers. Volvo is in the Guinness world book of records with 2.6 million miles on a 1966 Volvo P1800 owned by Irv Gordon of East Patchogue,NY.