These models have been out-of-production for many years.
Automakers start reporting sales figures for the second quarter of 2022 as we approach the halfway point. The news is generally terrible. However, there are still some cars that refuses to die. It’s time to start another round of zombie car.
The Dodge Viper is making a comeback to undead motoring. In 2017, the last Viper was retired, but there are still unsold models in 2022. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sales data shows that one Viper was sold between April 2017 and June 2018. However, we do not know the year or trim level. There have been other zombie Vipers. Previous sales reports showed four Vipers were sold last year and four more in 2020. There are many more.
The hybrid BMW is not as old as the Viper. The US production ended in 2019, but the i8 was resold last quarter. This sleek sports car was the first to introduce BMW’s electric brand. It boasted 369 combined horsepower from its turbocharged three-cylinder engine and an electric motor. We don’t have the exact year or trim of the i8. However, BMW can confirm that five I8s were sold this year. Are we likely to see more sales in 2023?
Supply chain problems continue to plague automakers, affecting current model year vehicles in a dramatic manner. Production woes were also evident in 2021, and nearly all major auto manufacturers have experienced a double-digit drop in sales through the first half 2022. Honda saw a drop in sales of more than 50% for the second quarter. Acura’s luxury division was even worse at 51%. While many brands report a drop of between 10-30 percent and 30 percent for their sales, Subaru managed to outperform the trend with a 0.7 per cent increase year-over-year. Chrysler stunned everyone with its staggering jump of 95 percent, but the automaker blamed a backlog in fleet orders for the increase.