Industry News: Convertible Sales Are Still Down

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

July 10, 2013

Convertibles have a small slice of the new car market. That slice seems to shinking even further.

According to data from R.L. Polk, sales of convertibles last year barely reached one percent. That's a major drop when compared to convertible sales of 1.6 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2006. In all, 151,636 convertibles were registered last year. While that is an increase in number of registations over the past few years, it still is lagging behind other vehicles.

The reason for this? Automakers are putting more development into more volume models such as midsize sedans and crossovers.

"They're sitting down and going through every potential product program and looking at the returns. When they see the volumes right now for convertibles, they're saying, 'Why would we do this?'" said R.L. Polk lead analyst Tom Libby.

There is some new metal on the way within the next few years. Jaguar has launched the new F-Type, a new Mazda Miata with an Alfa Romeo twin is just around the corner, and we have such models as the Corvette to look forward to. The question is of course is can this new crop help turn the tide.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[regfootball]

convertibles are not necessities, they are toys. So you gotta have free $$$$ to get one, and nobody has any money laying around these days.

[daves87rs]

Can see them being gone in the near future....

[Drew Dowdell]

I hope we get away from the insistence that all convertibles need to be hard top convertibles.... that adds a lot of cost that isn't needed.

[Drew Dowdell]

For example, there is a $6,180 price difference between the base VW Eos 2.0T and the VW Beetle Convertible 2.0T and a $9,655 price bump over the VW Beetle Convertible 2.5

[ImpalaPete]

Like somebody once told me, the best convertible to ride in is one you don't own. People are catching on.

[G. David Felt]

As we move to high strength steel, I can see the convertible only being in the luxury segment and select pony car segment as a full sky roof that opens will be far more practical for people. So far I see more people buying auto's with a sky roof that opens over a convertible desire. Just too limited a use if you live anywhere other than California or Florida it seems.

[Drew Dowdell]

What does high strength steel have to do with it. If anything, that would make it easier for manufacturers to make even safer convertibles.

[ImpalaPete]

He's saying that widespread use of high-strength steel allows its use beyond premium convertibles, such as for lower-cost and more practical sky roofs in vehicles people drive every day.

[G. David Felt]

He's saying that widespread use of high-strength steel allows its use beyond premium convertibles, such as for lower-cost and more practical sky roofs in vehicles people drive every day.

Exactly, Thank you

[Robert Hall]

Convertibles are great winter cars here in AZ...I try and rent one for a week or so every year. When I have extra garage space eventually I want one as a summer/beach car.