[nsap]

Unconfirmed: New Malibu Selling Only 9% Fleet
Maybe the new Malibu is doing it's job after all?
www.gminsidenews.com
September 8, 2008
By: Nsap

This is one of those stories of good news about General Motors, but it never gets out. Recently Automotive-Fleet released year-to-date fleet sale percentages on almost every model of vehicle sold in the United States. GM has been on the offensive with fleet sales for almost two years now, stating time and time again that newer models were not being sold to fleets in high numbers. At the time of release, Automotive-Fleet had the Chevrolet Malibu rated at 33% fleet. That is a high number and many people freaked out at the sight of it; assuming that was the new Malibu. The last-generation Malibu has been sold to fleets for some time now as the Malibu Classic. It was included in the 33% number. However, GMI has learned that the new Malibu is not accounting for very much of that 33%.

GMI has been told by sources that the all-new Malibu, so far, has had a fleet rate of around 9%. That is remarkably lower than the old Malibu. To put things into perspective, the Toyota Camry has a fleet rating of 8.6%, Honda Accord is at a mind-boggling 2.5% and the Ford Fusion is straddled with 32%. Malibu sales are up 34% for the year, with GM citing that retail sales have been up almost every month the new Malibu has been on the market.

Back in April of this year J.D. Power and associates released that 19.8% of trade-ins toward a new Malibu were import branded cars. That is vastly improved over the previous Malibu. Also released in April, Car And Driver reported that 25-30% of all new Malibu sales were of the top-of-the-line LTZ model. They also reported that 70% of Malibu sales were of the smaller, ECOTEC 2.4L engine. It should be noted that for 2009 the Malibu LTZ comes standard with the ECOTEC 2.4L engine and has a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 22 miles-per-gallon city and 33 miles-per-gallon highway.

GMI tried to get confirmation of the 9% fleet rating from GM through the public relations channels, but we never received a response. One would think they would be eager to assist getting good news articles out to the public, but apparently not. If anyone at GM can confirm this for us, by all means, contact us. If we get confirmation, we will publish an update to the story. Until this, please take the 9% as an unconfirmed report.

 

[Bigbee60]

And just think, Camry fleet sales at 8.6% is over 40K units. That's a lot of rental cars. I'm not always sure AFI has the fleet numbers right as they seldom list the Toyota Sienna as a high percentage fleet vehicle when a look at the rental lots will tell you that 80% of the minivans rented by the big 5 rental companies are Siennas.

 

[chevydlrmn]

I drove by a rental lot near my home yesterday. The lot was filled with camry's, matrix, and sienna. I don't think it will be long before Camry's fleet rate is higher.

 

[dindak]

I have yet to see a rental 08 Malibu though I have seen many of the Classic Malibus. Lots of Impalas and Cobalts though!

 

[osv_alero]

I haven't seen any new Malibus at the local rental lots.

 

[1487]

Someone should compare this to the Sonata's fleet %. Hyundai is selling LOTs of cars to rental agencies but the press never talks about it. Even Mazda sells 3s to Enterprise.

 

[EldoFan]

Is the 33mpg due to the 2.4L/6spd combo ?? The one I had in mind (plus all the other LT's I saw on the lot with the 2.4L/4spd) was rated 22/30mpg.......

 

[killerrd2]

I had a rental 08 Malibu. Nice ride and great mileage.
My only complaint was the lack of low-beam headlights. For some reason they were unable to come on. I tried everything including calling all the hotlines in the evening.
I sure made a lot of people happy driving around at night in northern Michigan with only hi-beams available - until I could get back to Avis and trade it for a G6!

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

I drove by a rental lot near my home yesterday. The lot was filled with camry's, matrix, and sienna. I don't think it will be long before Camry's fleet rate is higher.

I wish then Honda's fleet rate should be higher

I wonder if it possible to take some pictures of the rental lots to see some Matrix/Camry/Sienna/Corolla on the rental losts?

 

[johnstarnes]

I saw another one last night as I left a restaurant....really a MUCH better looking car than what preceded it.....quite classy and sculpted looking. Yet another car that looks better in real life than photos. I hope the next Impala has some of this new familial look but more in-your-face, more curvaceous, some design elements from the 65-67 models, perhaps even a Coke bottle waist with flared rear fenders and six tail lamps.

 

[nsap]

Is the 33mpg due to the 2.4L/6spd combo ?? The one I had in mind (plus all the other LT's I saw on the lot with the 2.4L/4spd) was rated 22/30mpg.......

All 2009 2LT Malibu 4-Cylinders and higher are rated at 33 MPG highway due to the 6-speed and tuning.

 

[Titanic]

the Ford Fusion is straddled with 32%.

Did you mean to say, "saddled?" I'm having a difficult time fathoming how a number can straddle a car.

 

[Hurricane]

25-30% of all new Malibu sales were of the top-of-the-line LTZ model.

I wish they would offer an in-dash nav option - with 25-30% of sales being the LTZ, I bet they would sell quite a few!

 

[steinravnik]

I've been seeing a lot of them in import dominated DC metro area. At first, I didn't see too many, but the number I've seen has been gradually growing.

 

[Titanic]

I've been seeing a lot of them in import dominated DC metro area. At first, I didn't see too many, but the number I've seen has been gradually growing.

There's an Eckington in DC now?

 

[cire_1wb]

"Back in April of this year J.D. Power and associates released that 19.8% of trade-ins toward a new Malibu were import branded cars. That is vastly improved over the previous Malibu. Also released in April, Car And Driver reported that 25-30% of all new Malibu sales were of the top-of-the-line LTZ model. They also reported that 70% of Malibu sales were of the smaller, ECOTEC 2.4L engine. It should be noted that for 2009 the Malibu LTZ comes standard with the ECOTEC 2.4L engine and has a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 22 miles-per-gallon city and 33 miles-per-gallon highway."

So Chevrolet can appeal to mainstream midsize sedan buyers who usually prefer Asian imports if the division is given attractive and competitive products (which are updated/redesigned on a timely basis). I wish GM would have realized this back in the '80s; it would have saved the corporation from wasting billions of dollars launching Saturn. Maybe GM will finally realize that it doesn't need 2 mainstream affordable divisions and it can let go of Saturn. Chevrolet is competent enough to handle this portion of the market when it is given the proper tools to allow it to be competitive. Opel could then be aligned with Pontiac; a division that has the sportier, edgier, and aspirational brand image (when it's not diluted with rebadged Chevy clones) and larger dealership base to properly represent Opel in North America.

It looks like this car is the first step towards reestablishing Chevrolet as a credible and competitive mainstream division. The Malibu is one of the most attractive sedans in the mainstream midsize segment. I hope GM can continue the momentum it has started with this car. Each subsequent product needs to reinforce the positive impact that GM has created with the Malibu. Hopefully, GM also realizes that it cannot let this car (or any of its products) remain in the market for an overextended time period and introduces an even better next gen product on a timely basis. The ground GM has gained with this car will be lost if GM allows it to stay on the market without a timely redesign (a mistake that GM has too often made in the past).

It's great to see Chevrolet and GM with a hit on its hands!

 

[Sgt Beavis]

I travel a lot. I almost always use National Car Rental and go to the Emerald aisle.

I think I've seen maybe five new Malibu's on the lot in the last year. I mostly see Pontiac G6's (which has a nice ride) or Chevy Impala's (my favorite rental car)

I just wish I could get a Malibu just once. Unfortunately they are either in the Executive Aisle or all rented out when I get there...

 

[jkr2106]

I've been seeing a lot of them in import dominated DC metro area. At first, I didn't see too many, but the number I've seen has been gradually growing.

I've been back to school in Boston for the past 2 days now, but over the summer I was surprised, too by how many Malibus I've seen around the DC area. Even my Nissan-loving parents like it. I always make sure to point them out whenever we see them in the wild.

On a side note, we went to Orlando this summer and had a Camry LE rental (there were a bunch, but no Malibus). My mom said it was the most un-inspired ride and the worse driving position she's ever experienced.

 

[sepi]

I bet you'll see a 20% or more rental sales percentage for the Impala which is now an irrelevant product in the Chevrolet lineup - the new Malibore is nearly the same size and the Impala is not a thing of beauty either. My hunch will be nearly 30% of all Impalas are rental queens. Factor in fleet sales, and I'd gather that nearly half of the Impalas "sold" are actual to fleets and to rentals.

The new Malibore would be nice if it didn't compromise interior and trunk room for "style". It is certainly too narrow to pull off the tall look. At least GM got the front seats right in the Malibore though that dog poo brown and black combo is dreadful on the eyes.

 

[member12]

Great title!

I was bored at work this morning. I really need something to do. If I am not busy, I go out every night and start bad habits.




The malibu is a great car...no doubt. I'm trying to get my parents to look at one instead of an Acura TSX or Lexus ES. It's cheaper and almost as good!