Rumored: Beat @ NAIAS Testing Waters For Possible US Launch
Hold it...Beat @ NAIAS does not equal an imminent US launch.
www.gminsidenews.com
January 10, 2009
By: Nsap
General Motors shocked the world by announcing on the Today Show earlier this week that the production version of the Chevrolet Beat mini car was going to be unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Instantly the assumption was that the Beat was going to be sold in North America. That was an easy assumption to come to considering the car is being revealed at the DETROIT auto show. However that assumption is partially incorrect.
When GM revealed the Beat Concept, along with its sister concepts the Groove and Trax, they allowed for the public to vote on which of the trio was their favorite. Over two million people voted the Beat as their favorite concept; beating the other two by vast margins. Since the overwhelmingly positive fanfare over the concept materialized, we’ve heard many rumors regarding the Beat’s future (or possible lack-there-of) in the North American market, but have usually be left confused. We’ve seen a number of spy shots of the Beat in its aggressive-looking glory overseas and in the United States, further confusing the cars potential U.S. launch.
As it turns out, we’re hearing that GM is revealing the production Beat at NAIAS this year to test the waters for a potential U.S. launch of the car in a few years. The production Beat that we will be seeing at NAIAS does not meet U.S. safety standards and cannot be sold without modifications. We’re told that if reaction to the production Beat is solid here in North America, GM will take actions to being a mid-cycle enhancement to the Beat to bring it up to U.S. safety regulations and sell it in North America. Another likely reason for the Beat’s reveal is to show that GM can and is building hip small cars.
It is expected that the Beat will go on sale in global markets by late 2009.
Who knows? GM surprised us all (even the media) with the Beat production car at NAIAS, maybe they will surprise us and launch it in North America sooner? Don't count on it though...