cars news 10: Report: Hatchback Demand on the Rise, Sedans Not so Much

Hatchback sales are predicted to significantly increase over the next few years, while demand for sedans will likely slide.

The prediction comes from IHS Automotive, which says hatchbacks will be the fastest growing body style in the U.S., with a 37-percent jump in sales from now to 2020. That means hatchbacks should account for about 1.1 million units in 2020, approximately 6.6 percent of total vehicle sales in the U.S. (compared to 4.8 percent in 2015).

Up to now, only a handful of automakers have consistently offered hatchbacks in the U.S. The Volkswagen Golf is one, and the Ford Focus is another. But that is about to change with the introduction of the Chevrolet Cruze and the Honda Civic hatch. In an interview with Automotive News, Honda’s general manager Jeff Conrad spoke about the Civic hatch and said “there is a growing market for that, so we want to be on the forefront.” Conrad said many consumers told the automaker they want something that “can carry my stuff.”

Meanwhile, sedans are headed for a different trajectory. According to IHS Automotive, sedans accounted for 33.1 percent of total U.S. car sales in 2015. That number is expected to drop to 29.3 percent in 2020.

SUVs and crossovers, however, will continue to dominate sales through 2020. SUVs were responsible for 36.8 percent of vehicles sales last year and IHS Automotive says that figure should increase to 39.8 percent in 2020.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)