[Sparkland]

Subaru Ascent sales for August 2018 - 4,235 YTD - 10,721

Toyota Highlander August - 23,300 YTD - 158,713
Honda Pilot August - 15,332 YTD - 104,437
Mazda CX-9 August - 2,276 YTD - 19,198
Subaru Outback August - 18,006 YTD - 125,091

It looks like the Ascent has supplanted the CX-9 as the favorite among those two models. The Ascent has not hurt Outback sales much as of yet.

August 2018 YTD U.S. SUV And Crossover Sales Rankings - Every SUV Ranked -

 

[Gaurav Shrivastava]

Total Subaru Ascent sold

Based on this data till now ~10000 Ascent sold.

August 2018 YTD U.S. SUV And Crossover Sales Rankings - Every SUV Ranked -
Aug YTD
Subaru Ascent 4,235 0 0.00 10,721 0 0.00

 

[JR325]

Holy Moly does Toyota move cars.

 

[sloheim]

Subaru Ascent sales for August 2018 - 4,235 YTD - 10,721

Wasn't Subaru planning on 60,000 Ascents in the first model year? And they've already burned thru more than 1/6 of that number? Wow.

 

[Gueromeister]

How many threads do we need on this? :nerd:

 

[Ascentic]

How many threads do we need on this? :nerd:

Great!

But how many delivered! :grin:

 

[COLiving]

Holy Moly does Toyota move cars.

23,000 units of a woefully underfeatured $45,000 SUV. Amazing. You can't even get LED headlights on the top of the line model....

 

[Ey31]

Yeah they do, but the interior is inferior imo. I guess some people like it.

 

[Jason]

Wasn't Subaru planning on 60,000 Ascents in the first model year? And they've already burned thru more than 1/6 of that number? Wow.

We are actually right on pace for what they expected. In the two months its been "for sale" they've sold about 5,000 per month. 5,000 x 12 months = 60,000 cars.

But if they could make more each month, they would obviously sell more each month. Imo they could double production and we'd still be racing to find enough inventory. I've easily had as many people go buy something else because they couldn't wait as those who actually placed an order.

 

[sloheim]

We are actually right on pace for what they expected. In the two months its been "for sale" they've sold about 5,000 per month. 5,000 x 12 months = 60,000 cars.

Right... except that dealers are just starting to get their 2019 stock, aren't they? Assuming that the Ascents come in the same time as other models next season... they're only about 2/14s of the way into their first model year.

I'm sure that the 60k is just a target for year 1... I can't imagine they will shut down the lines if they exceed the target.

 

[laufu]

Right... except that dealers are just starting to get their 2019 stock, aren't they? Assuming that the Ascents come in the same time as other models next season... they're only about 2/14s of the way into their first model year.

I'm sure that the 60k is just a target for year 1... I can't imagine they will shut down the lines if they exceed the target.

Just curious, but how did Subaru define Year 1? Does year 1 mean June 2018 to December 2018 or June 2018 - May 2019?

if Year 1 ends in December, Subaru will only make half their goal. 5k/month * 6 = 30k

 

[Carl Abrams]

I've easily had as many people go buy something else because they couldn't wait as those who actually placed an order.

Tell me about it ...

I just had someone come in today that, for their specific trim package and color combination, came up with a January delivery date ...

 

[sloheim]

Year One will only run until the end of December, because that is how it works. Year Two will begin in January and run through December.

I would assume they are talking 60k for their first "model year"... as in, they are planning on manufacturing 60k 2019 Subaru Ascents, regardless of the date when they are sold.

 

[Carl Abrams]

I'm sure that the 60k is just a target for year 1... I can't imagine they will shut down the lines if they exceed the target.

The limiting thing is the EPA certificate. That tells them how many TOTAL cars the plant can produce for the entire year. Right now that limit is 400,000 vehicles.

Keep in mind that Subaru is and will remain a conservative company. We went from September 2014 until March of 2016 with effectively ZERO Outbacks on the ground - you wanted one, you ordered it. So it's just a case of been there, done that already.

 

[Carl Abrams]

Great!

But how many delivered! :grin:

As of today, just over 11,400.

 

[Jason]

I would assume they are talking 60k for their first "model year"... as in, they are planning on manufacturing 60k 2019 Subaru Ascents, regardless of the date when they are sold.

Correct. Subaru wants to sell 60,000 2019 Ascents. Year two starts when the 2020 model is released.

 

[laufu]

Correct. Subaru wants to sell 60,000 2019 Ascents. Year two starts when the 2020 model is released.

So Year 1 is the model year and not the calendar year... thanks for clearing that up.

 

[bverant]

23,000 units of a woefully underfeatured $45,000 SUV. Amazing. You can't even get LED headlights on the top of the line model....

Once I learned that the Highlander still had halogen headlights, even at the highest trim levels (over $45k) that became a big stopper for me. I expected more from Toyota.

 

[Sparkland]

Once I learned that the Highlander still had halogen headlights, even at the highest trim levels (over $45k) that became a big stopper for me. I expected more from Toyota.

I don't care what type of lights are available - only if they work!! Some LED headlights are far worse than halogen.

 

[bverant]

I don't care what type of lights are available - only if they work!! Some LED headlights are far worse than halogen.

I suppose the sealed beamed headlights from a Chevy Nova will throw light on the ground, but I wouldn't use them. It is true that some are designed better than others and, to give Toyota credit, they were the only halogen projection beam to gain an "Acceptable" rating the IIHS (https://m.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/toyota/highlander-4-door-suv/2018). Further, it is true that some other manufacturers' LED and HID headlights didn't even get an Acceptable rating from the IIHS headlight testing. However, it is also a fact that HID and LED lamps do have higher lumen output than the halogen equivalents. The odd thing with the Highlander is that, at least on the Limited and Limited Platinum trim levels, they have LED tail lights and fog lights. So, it's obvious Toyota thought about lighting, but I still think, at that price level, they fell short of the mark when it came to the headlights. It's a feature you expect at that price level and I willing to bet the next iteration of the Highlander will have LED headlights, but that may be a few years out.