Chevrolet Has Three Models in the Top 10, Toyota and Ford Each Have Two
According to the Urban Dictionary, the term “moving metal” was coined in Detroit decades ago, though no one seems to remember who said it first. But if you’ve been in the auto industry for any length of time, chances are that you’ve heard—or even used—that phrase to describe the most closely watched metric of them all: vehicle sales.
At Cloud Theory, we looked to our Horizon data and insights platform to identify the Vehicle Movement Biggest Gainers over the past 90 days (compared to the prior period) to see which models are increasing their “moved metal” counts the most.
A few observations:
- At a time when new vehicle marketed prices are still hovering around $50,000 and the number of available lower-end models has dropped drastically, the top two models on this list—Subaru Crosstrek and Chevrolet Trax—are among the most inexpensive on the market today. Two other affordable choices—the Kia K5 and Ford Bronco Sport—are also in the top 10.
- Another key contributor to vehicle movement gains is an increase in inventory. As new vehicle supply continues to rebound from previous supply-chain-challenged-lows, new introductions and inventory replenishment are also having an impact.
- Having two EV models on the list is encouraging. One of them being a new Honda offering is certainly helpful for that sector of the market (as well as for that OEM).
- Three established models—Crosstrek, F-150, and Bronco Sport—demonstrate that growth can occur even in the absence of large inventory gains. It is noted that F-150 has an inherent advantage to appear on this list given its sheer size—but it should also be said that in order to be one of the biggest gainers, a model of that size has to be…gaining.
Specific comments about the top performers on the list point to key contributing factors for those two models:
- Subaru Crosstrek is a Consumer Reports top 10 pick for 2024, solidifying its bona fides as a perennial favorite of automotive editors and industry experts. It also doesn’t hurt that Crosstrek’s Cloud Theory Market Adjustment, which measures the marketed discounts and incentives that appear on dealer websites, went from -$62 last year to -$915 now. As the writers at Torque News put it, "before now, Subaru retailers had less inventory and high demand for the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek. Now, retailers across America have increased inventory, fewer buyers because of the economy, and higher interest rates, and they have to offer incentives to move new Subaru models off their lots."
- Chevrolet Trax has proved to offer a lot of bang for not many bucks. According to Autoblog, “the 2025 Trax enters its second year after its major 2024 overhaul and is just as impressive as before. Its base price of just $21,495 is what makes this not-so-little crossover such a smart move from GM. When you combine that price with a more-than palatable driving experience, all the tech you really need, and a shocking amount of utility, it’s no surprise that the Trax is a winner.”
As noted, there are multiple paths to vehicle movement growth. But it is refreshing that moving metal the old-fashioned way—by offering a good product at a good price—can still win the day in today’s automotive marketplace.
Feature photo credit: The Jon Fernandez / Shutterstock.com
