Subaru of America reported a 12 percent decrease in its June deliveries as the industry works to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Forester compact crossover bucked the downward trend as its June sales rose 32 percent to 19,490. It accounted for more than a third of Subaru’s 53,911 sales in the month, and the vehicle’s volume is down just 0.4 percent year to date.
“The Forester continued to shine in our lineup of all-star vehicles, drawing a healthy demand from car buyers looking for vehicles they can rely on when times are tough,” Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, said in a statement.
Subaru’s other key light trucks — the Ascent, Outback and Crosstrek — fell in June. The lower-volume WRX/STI and BRZ cars saw gains.
Subaru of America earlier this week said it would switch to quarterly sales reports after June, but a spokesperson on Wednesday evening told Automotive News that the brand changed its decision and will continue to post them monthly through the end of this year.
Notable nameplates: Forester up 32%, WRX/STI up 16 percent, BRZ up 17 percent, Crosstrek down 10 percent, Ascent down 13%, Impreza down 39%, Outback down 42%
Incentives: $1,746 per vehicle in the second quarter, up 18% from a year earlier, ALG says.
Average transaction price: $30,534, up 2.6% from a year earlier, according to ALG.
Quote: “Our June results are a testament to the perseverance of our retailers, who overcame difficult circumstances to achieve our sales target,” said Tom Doll, CEO of Subaru of America.
Did you know? Last year, the Outback midsize crossover was Subaru of America’s bestselling vehicle in June, with 17,505 deliveries, topping the Forester’s 14,753. In June 2020, the Forester and Outback switched places: 19,490 vs. 10,250.