Chevrolet Dumping Europe

[trollbait]

Eh,
GM had too many damn divisions before.
Yes, I liked Pontiac but fact is they (GM) were spread too thin and for a long time they had multiples of the same damn vehicles with very minor differences. I still have no idea why there are GMC trucks and Chevy trucks.

GMC started as a way for Buick and GM dealers to sell trucks without sullying their lots with plebeian Chevys. That those dealers are still around could be part of why GMC survived.

My understanding the main reason is that the 'professional grade' and other advertizing was too good. A survey had 20% of GMC owners switching to Ford over Chevy. Without some strong reason to keep it, the feds would have had GM ax GMC.

...dumping the bad ones (cough cough Daewoo manufacturing)...

Careful there. Who do think is responsible for the Sonic? Though they felt a need to change the name to GM Korea.

 

[Jarrow]

I heard this morning that GM is also pulling manufacturing out of Australia

 

[ChrisJ]

GMC started as a way for Buick and GM dealers to sell trucks without sullying their lots with plebeian Chevys. That those dealers are still around could be part of why GMC survived.

My understanding the main reason is that the 'professional grade' and other advertizing was too good. A survey had 20% of GMC owners switching to Ford over Chevy. Without some strong reason to keep it, the feds would have had GM ax GMC.

Careful there. Who do think is responsible for the Sonic? Though they felt a need to change the name to GM Korea.

Well I think it makes sense that if you had a GMC and didn't like it you would go to Ford. Being Chevy trucks appear to be 98% identical to GMC why would you go to Chevy?

Of course this is only my opinion but to me GMC seems to be nothing more than a more expensive ugly version of a Chevy.

 

[trollbait]

The 20% going to Ford wasn't necessarily because they were unhappy with the GMC. It is because marketing convinced them that despite being 98% Chevy parts with 100% in the areas that count, that the GMC trucks are better than Chevy ones. So much better that they would rather have a Ford over the Chevy if there was no GMC.

It's like having a Mercury or Buick owner that would rather switch parent company than buy a Ford or Chevy.

 

[laborsmith]

This ^ is correct as far as it goes. The other factor would be switching not because of a perception a GMC would be better but disenchantment that the company would have the temerity to drop the brand.

Laborsmith

 

[Dirt55]

Careful there. Who do think is responsible for the Sonic? Though they felt a need to change the name to GM Korea.

I don't know, from what I hearing the Sonic was designed by the European division. Don't know how true it is, its just what I hear. Also heard that the engine is a European design--hence why the oil filter is a bit different.

Also heard (which I plan on checking up on) that all the engines for the Sonic are built here in Germany. I plan on checking on it and if it is true, if so I hope to go check out the plant, maybe they will give me tour.

These are things I am hearing from people here. Haven't really researched it yet to see how true. But the Germans here seem to be proud of that.

 

[laborsmith]

Designed in South Korea by a host of international engineers, including several from the US who lived in South Korea for up to three years during the design phase.

The 1.8 is assembled in Europe (Austria) and all the turbo 1.4s put in the Sonic are assembled in Flint, Michigan. As far as I know, the Flint Engine Assembly Plant is not located in Germany.

Laborsmith

 

[Dirt55]

Yeah the talk around here is the Engines are built in a city named Kaiserslatern. I didn't really have a chance to research if what the people were saying was accurate. I usually just nod and let them talk.

Was kinda hoping it was true so I could check out the plant, but oh well, maybe next time.

 

[laborsmith]

Family 1 (1.8 NA) engines are manufactured at Szentgotthárd, Hungary, Bupyeoung, Korea and Toluca, Mexico.

Family 0 (1.4T) engines are produced in Aspern, Austria and Flint, Michigan.


Laborsmith

 

[EX331]

The Dacia Sandero is a pretty sweet car, especially with a deisel engine.

The rest of the world just has so many more options when it comes to compact and subcompact cars!

James May, is that you?!

 

[sx sonic]

Careful there. Who do think is responsible for the Sonic? Though they felt a need to change the name to GM Korea.

I'm aware they had a hand in the "design" of the sonic, I was referring to their "manufacturing" which doesn't have the best QC record.

While I'm often ham fisted with my word choice, this time I wasn't .

 

[laborsmith]

Chevy is not totally dumping Europe: the Corvette C7 will still be sold there as a Chevrolet.

Laborsmith

 

[muvafocker]

Sorry, I'm a bit behind on this thread. I think that the reason Chevy didn't make it over here was the fact that there was hardly any advertising, I think I've only seen 2 or 3 ad's on the TV over the last couple of years and they were for a s***y brown coloured Cruze estate, who wants one of them! There's advert's on the TV for almost all the other big manufacturers every 5 minutes including Dacia!
I bought my Aveo/Sonic from a local dealer almost 2 years ago who as far as I'm concerned are completely useless, they've got a c**p aftersales service and they even tried to screw a Vauxhall into me when I went to check out the new Aveo. Even if Chevrolet were to carry on trading in europe I wouldn't go back to the same dealer again! But seeing as Chevy are now pulling out of europe GM can stick their cars, I'm off to Kia when it's time for an upgrade, I quite like the look of the Kia Ce'ed or even a Sportage, I cant wait to lose this poxy Chevrolet! :banana: