Chevrolet Astra

[Perian]

I recently posted this article...

Source: AN Daily Email

DETROIT -- General Motors will start construction on a new assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, sometime in May.

GM will build compact and sub-compact vehicles at the new facility to be sold only in Mexico, says Carlos Gelista, director of public relations and government relations for GM Mexico.

The plant, which should be running sometime in 2008, will assemble about 30 vehicles per hour and employee about 1,800 people, Gelista says.

My comments followed:

Crazy Thought: What if this new plant was for the Astra?

30 vph is about 2880 per week - 750 for Mexico, the rest sent to the US and Canada under Saturn Astra label???

Think about it -

GM had said no more Ion at Spring Hill, and Lordstown will fill its' capacity with the new G5...

So where do you source the Ion replacement from?

GM could start by importing the Astra here from Europe, and then go to a lower cost output in Mexico.

And Now...Look what the Mexican consumer is getting:

http://autodeadline.com/detail?sourc...67815&mime=JPG
http://autodeadline.com/detail?sourc...67873&mime=JPG
http://autodeadline.com/detail?sourc...67827&mime=JPG

[ChevyOptra5]

Interesting.....very interesting. Is it just me, or does it seem like the Saturn emblem fits the car better then the chevrolet badge, it could just be the way the presented the chevy badge on that car. Amyways, from what i've seen in european mags, shows like top gear and websites, i can't wait for that car to geht her.

[chevydlrmn]

would make way too much sense to give us a car like that. instead we get a car thing that is difficult to appeal to younger buyers. great strategy!

[gerardo_zg]

Yes but it's being shipped from Europe. I read somewhere that USA will not receive production from the SLP plant, only Latin America will. I'll try to get that link.

[mystikranger]

How will that fit Chevy's image? Its like random styling for Chevy.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by mystikranger

How will that fit Chevy's image? Its like random styling for Chevy.

You do know that Chevy in the Latin America is mostly Opels, and that Chevy everywhere else is mostly Daewoos. Only in the US and Canada is Chevy really what we think of as Chevy.

[CobaltSScrazy]

hmmm...its def. a possibility. I wouldn't be surprised put it that way!

[gerardo_zg]

Well if it counts, we also have Malibus, Silverados, HHR, SSR, Corvette, Suburban, Sonora (Tahoe),Trail Blazer, Equinox, Avalanche, Uplander, Colorado,Tracker, Express and the Kodiak Series.

Opels rebadged as Chevrolets are the Vectra, Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira. The Chevy C2 is based in an old Opel platform, but it was designed in Mexico, and it's not sold in Europe so it isn't an Opel or a Chevrolet.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by gerardo_zg

Well if it counts, we also have Malibus, Silverados, HHR, SSR, Corvette, Suburban, Sonora (Tahoe),Trail Blazer, Equinox, Avalanche, Uplander, Colorado,Tracker, Express and the Kodiak Series.

Opels rebadged as Chevrolets are the Vectra, Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira. The Chevy C2 is based in an old Opel platform, but it was designed in Mexico, and it's not sold in Europe so it isn't an Opel or a Chevrolet.

Are the US cars limited to Mexico or are they all over Latin America?

[Bravada]

Generally limited to Mexico. South America gets an S10 and Blazer loosely based on the old S10 (with some Isuzu input, AFAIK), but the rest are Opels, a bit of Daewoo and Holden (Commodore replaced Opel Omega as the Chevrolet Omega).

The Mexican lineup is really bloated - the Vectra sedan and Malibu overlap directly. The C2 is essentially the old Opel Corsa B with a different nose.

PS. Gerardo, do you or did you get the Combo in any form?

[rata87]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Are the US cars limited to Mexico or are they all over Latin America?

Are limited to mexico only, just some suvs as the trailblazer,suburban and tahoe are sold in south america also they get old european platforms, facelifted.

[69Firebird400]

I thought I read somewhere that GM was not going to import any Opels from Europe to rebadge as Saturns - that it was going to use Opel designs and engineering, but build them domestically. Of course, nowadays, "domestic" more or less counts as anything built in North America.

Your theory sounds reasonable, though, Perian. I wonder if the plant in Mexico at Ramos Arizpe that builds the HHR and Rendezvous is flexible enough to build Astras with any spare capacity they have. Also, since Ramos Arizpe builds the Buick Rendezvous also, which is going away, they could potentially use that capacity for Delta production, either for the HHR if sales stay strong, or for the Astra. (Which I know isn't technically a Delta, but maybe this is still a possibility...)

[Butz]

Hopefully this car would come to the US! GM desperately needs this car in the USA and Canada!

[DU Biggs]

I think that version would go over ok here in the states, but i dont see any mind blowing sales

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Perian

My comments followed:

Crazy Thought: What if this new plant was for the Astra?

30 vph is about 2880 per week - 750 for Mexico, the rest sent to the US and Canada under Saturn Astra label???

Think about it -

GM had said no more Ion at Spring Hill, and Lordstown will fill its' capacity with the new G5...

So where do you source the Ion replacement from?

GM could start by importing the Astra here from Europe, and then go to a lower cost output in Mexico.

And Now...Look what the Mexican consumer is getting:

I think it's very plausibile Perian. GM (and Ford, DCX, VW) source a good number of vehicles from Mexico. It makes sense b/c of NAFTA and since they can build a "cheap" car more economically and get better margins (GM and other brands don't really make much profit on small cars and building them in a country with lower wages will translate into more profit-per-vehicle sale).

In any event, this very well may be. Chevy gets a new Astra for Mexico and Central America (do they sell Saturn or Opel in Mexico?) and Saturn gets a new Astra/Evoke for their lineup.