Zac Quinn 
The first three months of 2022 have come and gone, which means many automakers are reporting sales for the year’s first quarter. In the day and age where consumers are more interested in trucks and SUVs, it is no big surprise that Pony cars account for a small portion of overall sales. Despite that, the Ford Mustang once again outsold the Dodge Challenger after ceding defeat last year.
Dodge Charger First, Ford Mustang Second
The Dodge Charger continues to be the most appealing muscle car on the market in terms of sales, but it still suffered deep losses. Just 15,439 units were moved in Q1 2022, a 22 percent drop from last year.
While the Ford Mustang bested the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro in sales through the first three months of 2022, there was a 19 percent drop from the previous year. Just 13,986 Mustangs found homes. Meanwhile, Dodge sold 11,124 Challengers for the first quarter, a 26 percent year over year drop. None of this is a good sign for the muscle car, especially since it ended 2021 by going up 3 percent.
The Chevrolet Camaro sales only fell 5.3 percent, but then again there isn’t much to lose. Just 6,710 Camaros were sold in Q1 2022, which amounts to less than half the Mustang. Chevrolet still has call for celebration, however, with sales increasing 33.3 percent year over year to 8,811 units. The C8 isn’t really a “muscle car” compared to the rest, but with Dodge SRT customers cross-shopping America’s Sports Car more than anything else, it does speak to the notion that these vehicles are appealing to a particular demographic.
What to make of all this? As we extensively went over in our 2021 overall muscle car sales report, the segment is being squeezed by two major forces: supply chain issues, and shifting customer tastes. And not necessarily meaning electrification, either. It’s more likely that the abundance of radically capable performance trucks and SUVs are attracting the muscle car buyer, as hobbies and lifestyles change over time.
The Charger isn’t in the same class as the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. They are coupes and the charger is a sedan. If the Charger didn’t sell more than the coupes. STELLANTIS would have a huge problem
Charger is very much closer to the Challenger/Mustang/Camaro and their customer base than anything else. Having four doors doesn’t suddenly nullify all of the other similarities.