Market Shortage
According to auto industry sources on Aug. 23, cumulative pre-orders for the Chevolet Impala have surpassed 3,000 units as of Aug. 21. On a daily basis, about 200 deals are signed.
GM Korea has forecasted that the Impala will sell 4,000 to 5,000 units for four months from Sept., when it will hit the market in earnest, to the end of this year. However, more than 3,000 units of the model have already sold before the official launch, thanks to an aggressive price policy.
Out of the total contracts of the Impala, its 2.5-liter LTZ model accounts for nearly 50 percent, while its 3.6-liter LTZ and 2.5-liter LT models account for 35 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
An official from GM Korea said, “Since the number of pre-orders for the Impala is about two to three times higher than earlier expectations, it is seriously insufficient in supply. We have recently made a request to the GM headquarters for additional supply, and are discussing it.”
The Impala is not manufactured in domestic plants. With the current trend, the projected sales deals this year can be completed in two weeks, said GM Korea. This is why it is urgent to secure an additional supply of the model.
However, GM Korea will not be able to secure sufficient quantities, considering the local plants’ production capacity, the demand in the U.S., and the parts supply issue.
Regarding the short supply of the Impala, an official from the industry said, “When the model is left in stock, passing the year, it is burdensome. So, GM Korea seems to have conservatively estimated the demand.”