Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles In America – March 2013

Audi’s Upcoming A3 Sedan

Even as the overall new vehicle market rose 3.4% in America in March 2013, dozens of different nameplates suffered from declining year-over-year volume.

Compared with March 2013, no actively-marketed, un-cancelled nameplate fell as hard as the Audi A3. Its 81% decline equaled 513 fewer sales for Audi USA.

The Scion iQ, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Infiniti EX, Honda Insight, Acura TSX, and Lexus CT200h all posted totals which were less than half of what they managed a year ago.

All 254 Vehicles Ranked By March & 2013 YTD U.S. Sales

Strictly looking at March 2013’s volume, the A3 appears low in contrast to other vehicles priced under $45,000; in comparison to vehicles of any price, in fact. Look for A3 sales to be higher than ever, nonetheless, when Audi replaces the current hatchback A3 with the new A3 sedan.

Honda’s CR-Z, the favourite whipping boy for auto sales analysts, hasn’t posted a year-over-year increase since the first month in which it was eligible, August 2011. Scion’s iQ, meanwhile, has recorded three consecutive year-over-year declines and was outsold by the Smart Fortwo by a 2.4-to-1 ratio. Chevrolet sold 3538 Sparks in March.

You can find detailed historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these vehicles by selecting a make and/or model at GCBC’s Sales Stats page. You can also view the world in a brighter light by looking at March’s 30 best-selling vehicles in America. Worst sellers are ranked three different ways in the tables below.

March 2014 – April 2013– February 2013 – March 2012

Rank	Worst-Selling Car By Percentage Decline	% Change	March 2013	March 2012
#1	Audi A3	– 81.0%	120	633
#2	Scion iQ	– 70.2%	383	1285
#3	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	– 64.2%	44	123
#4	Infiniti EX	– 61.4%	146	378
#5	Honda Insight	– 56.0%	454	1032
#6	Acura TSX	– 55.5%	1492	3355
#7	Lexus CT200h	– 52.2%	1062	2223
#8	Nissan Quest	– 48.2%	1345	2596
#9	Volvo S80	– 46.4%	188	351
#10	Lincoln MKS	– 45.3%	924	1689

Rank	Worst-Selling Car By Volume (Base Prices Under $45,000)	March 2013	March 2012	% Change
#1	Mitsubishi i MiEV	31	56	– 44.6%
#2	Audi A3	120	633	– 81.0%
#3	Infiniti EX	146	378	– 61.4%
#4	Subaru Tribeca	151	183	– 17.5%
#5	Audi TT	189	221	– 14.5%
#6	Land Rover LR2	313	270	+ 15.9%
#7	Scion iQ	383	1285	– 70.2%
#8	Volkswagen Eos	403	664	– 39.3%
#9	Honda CR-Z	451	536	– 15.9%
#10	Mercedes-Benz SLK	453	567	– 20.1%

Rank	Worst-Selling Car By Volume (All Vehicles)	March 2013	March 2012	% Change
#1	SRT (Dodge) Viper	3	—–	—–
#2	Mitsubishi i MiEV	31	56	– 44.6%
#3	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	44	123	– 64.2%
#4	Mercedes-Benz CL-Class	53	64	– 17.2%
#5	Audi R8	68	90	– 24.4%
#6	Audi A3	120	633	– 81.0%
#7	Nissan GT-R	122	139	– 12.2%
#8	Infiniti EX	146	378	– 61.4%
#9	Subaru Tribeca	151	183	– 17.5%
#10	Jaguar XK	168	191	– 12.0%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC
Vehicle must have been on sale in March 2013, must not have been officially cancelled by its manufacturer, and must have been showcased on manufacturer’s website through March 2013. Chevrolet’s Caprice PPV, Lexus LFA, Honda FCX are not eligible for this list. Sales by brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley go unreported, unfortunately.
* In the near-term, for the purposes of the worst sellers list, GCBC will be viewing the Acura RL and RLX as one car.