Lets see production started October 15, 2007..... and in the first month they made 6017 as per GM:
Well they made 15,792 in May, 2008, so that would confirm that they got off to a really lousy start. Over 7000 dealers in the USA alone and only 6017 cars at launch. That's poor dumb planning, particularly considering all the hype that the Mailbu was generating in the media. BTW, it looks like they still produced 3385 of the old turkeys in October/07.
According to GM, Impala deliveries for May 2007 where 35,665. Impala deliveries for May 2008 were 23,803. That is a negative difference of 11,862. So 15,792 2008 Malibus minus the 11,862 fewer Impalas just illustrates that in the eyes of GM buyers the Malibu is the new Impala. They certainly aren't taking the Camry and Accord buyers.
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/84/84530/sales_production/May08Deliveries.pdf
Anyways, I can understand why your sooooo not likeing the new Malibu
I don't have anything against it. It's a much better Impala no question.
it looks better (yes this is subjective but its pretty much a consensus)
What consensus is that? From ppl here that don't buy it.
and for 2008.5 it has a better 4cylinder driveline that makes more power and gets better fuel economy than the Camry.
Who says? All I know is that to get a 6 speed in their 4 cylinder it currently runs one $31,500 plus F&PDI. Good luck with that. I'll wait till Wing tests the afore-mentioned. My own opinion is that the 6 speed GM is using in the V6 won't work well with their 4.
Hmmmm is it really poor plannning by GM to launch the Malibu at a slow rate to ensure quality of the units it produces? Maybe they learnt from the negative reaction to the new Camry's that were terrible when Toyota messed up its launch! isn't it 'poor dumb planning' on Toyota's part to launch a not-ready-for-market product? I think so. Heck even Toyota's love child CR agrees with me.
Poor launch = Toyota's quality control not Chev's slow ramp up controlling quality.
Why wouldn't people cross shop the Malibu and the Impala? they overlap a decent amount price wise but the Malibu is an all new design and gets better fuel economy. If you really don't need the space, why not get the newer model with better fuel economy?
So long as GM is selling EVERY malibu it makes it is doing just fine - even if it isn't taking every Accord and Camry owner.
Can you actually offer proof that the Malibu was produced with very few 4cylinder models initially or is it just more of your 'made up facts'? PS did it hurt sales at all? they seem to sell every one they make. So your point is, exactly?
Here are the 'facts' about the Malibu:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/malibu_powers_sales/The average retail price of Malibu sales is slightly more than $21,000, Catton says, with the base LS model accounting for better than 25% of sales. The mid-range 1 LT and 2 LT models, combined, account for 50%, while the top-of-the-line LTZ is running over 18%.
Some 70% of Malibu customers are buying 4-cyl. engines.hmmm 70 percent of Malibu buyers are buying 4cylinders.
and based on the percentages of models that people are buying - there are going to be alot of 2.4/6spee auto combos out there starting in 2009 - in addition to the g6 and Aura's that both will have it as well - as it will be available on the base g6, standard on all Auras and available on ALL LT and LTZ Malibus.
That should cover pretty much all price ranges.
Who says that the 2009 2.4/6speed auto gets better fuel economy and makes more power than the Camry 4cylinder powertrain? GM does:
http://media.gm.com/us/chevrolet/en/product_services/r_cars/r_c_malibu/09index.htmlread it and see-> 22 city 33highway and 169 hp
far better than what the 2009 Camry offers with its, using your words to describe a powertrain that is out of date, 'dinosaur' powertrain.
PS this has been proven to you in the past, and it is SAD that you still don't have a clue, but the 6speed auto used with the 2.4 is NOT the same as the one used with the 3.6