Chevy Europe looks to double range

[nadepalma]

Didn't see it anywhere; sorry if it's a repost. But good news for the European Bow-Tie Boys

SOURCE: AutoCar-UK

Chevrolet doubles range
29 May 2008

Chevrolet Europe will double its model range by 2012. The GM-owned company wants to be competitive in 65 per cent of the market within four years; an increase of a third from 2006.

“The whole Chevrolet portfolio will be renewed by 2012, and we are looking to expand into new segments,” said Wayne Brannon, chief executive of Chevrolet Europe. “We’re particularly interested in creating a new monocab MPV to compete with the Zafira, and a small SUV that would sit beneath the Captiva.”

The new Epica saloon is the first stage in the new strategy, and will be followed by the all-new Matiz, Camaro and eventually the electric Volt.

MORE HERE

[paul8488]

They shouldn't be looking to compete with the Zafira... they should be looking to appeal to customers that don't already consider the Zafira.

Still, this is good news... I like Chevrolet's European lineup but there certainly are some holes.

[lio45]

Wrong forum sub-section? This should be in Daewoo News.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by lio45

Wrong forum sub-section? This should be in Daewoo News.

Daewoo is GM, which is Chevy in Europe. It's not like this happened yesterday, shouldn't we be over this by now?

[mbukukanyau]

I hope GM realizes they have milked the Daewoo platforms all they can

[Rick_VT]

And the first vehicle they want to compete with and take sales from is one of there own?? did they got tired of all the badge engineering and decide on another way to shoot themselves in the foot??

[crooner214]

I'm thinking he means to say it will compete along with the Zafira.

[powervette]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

will be followed by the all-new Camaro

CAMARO CAMARO CAMARO = MUSIC TO MY EARS

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

I hope GM realizes they have milked the Daewoo platforms all they can

The Daewoo platforms will be gone in a few years.

The M150 Spark/Matiz is moving to the Agila/Splash small platform by 2010.

The T250 Aveo is moving to Gamma-II around 2011.

The J250 Optra/Lacetti/etc. are moving to Delta-II next year.

The V250 Epica and next-gen Malibu are scheduled to merge in 2012.

[HoosierRon]

If Chevrolet is going to be in 65% of the European market, am I the only one wondering GM is going to keep Chevrolet from overlapping with Opel from overlapping with Saab from overlapping with the "B" Cadillacs?

[mgescuro]

That's a seemingly aggressive timetable.
But I wonder how they are going to "double."

Will Chevy just rebadge an Opel?
Will Chevy expand the Daewoo lineup?
Will Chevy bring in capable American Chevys like HHR and an improved Cobalt?

I'd like to know.
I really hate the rebadge idea, but I have a sinking feeling...

[DuSpinnst]

Since platforms going forward are global there isn't going to be anymore Daewoo platforms (like there is now at least).

Different cars will have different "hosts." European Chevy will have Opel, Daewoo, and NA platforms. I don't know why this is hard to understand.

[Bravada]

This doesn't sound too good to me at all:

1. Zafira is one of Europe's best-selling compact MPV's already - if there is something that could appeal to Picasso, Touran or Scenic buyers who did not want a Zafira, it is a better Zafira, not a Chevrolet clone

2. The SUV smaller than Captiva will probably be a clone of the Corsa-based 4x4 announced sometime ago with a similar timetable... Unless they will try to compete with the Vitara with a half-a-size smaller Captiva-derived vehicle.

I believe Chevrolet's aim should be to compliment Opel and other GM brands with unique offerings, rather than compete in segments already covered. A good example is the HHR (for some reason ridiclously expensive in Poland despite low USD, Mexican production and rather cheap interior), which offers a REAL alternative to the Zafira for people who do not want "just another kiddie mover". Not building upon the concept is a big mistake.

OTOH, Opel lags behind almost everybody else in the LCV/leisure-activity vehicle market (small delivery vans that are also available as passenger/fun vehicles), still peddling the ungainly and rather obviously old-Corsa-based Combo, when the market leaders are launching their second generations of segment-specific models with neat styling and superb utility. I believe a Chevrolet covering that segment could really help GM extend their sphere of influence in Europe.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by Bravada

This doesn't sound too good to me at all:

1. Zafira is one of Europe's best-selling compact MPV's already - if there is something that could appeal to Picasso, Touran or Scenic buyers who did not want a Zafira, it is a better Zafira, not a Chevrolet clone

2. The SUV smaller than Captiva will probably be a clone of the Corsa-based 4x4 announced sometime ago with a similar timetable... Unless they will try to compete with the Vitara with a half-a-size smaller Captiva-derived vehicle.

I believe Chevrolet's aim should be to compliment Opel and other GM brands with unique offerings, rather than compete in segments already covered. A good example is the HHR (for some reason ridiclously expensive in Poland despite low USD, Mexican production and rather cheap interior), which offers a REAL alternative to the Zafira for people who do not want "just another kiddie mover". Not building upon the concept is a big mistake.

OTOH, Opel lags behind almost everybody else in the LCV/leisure-activity vehicle market (small delivery vans that are also available as passenger/fun vehicles), still peddling the ungainly and rather obviously old-Corsa-based Combo, when the market leaders are launching their second generations of segment-specific models with neat styling and superb utility. I believe a Chevrolet covering that segment could really help GM extend their sphere of influence in Europe.

Agree with all three points, GM really needs to do a better job with the HHR and desparately needs a new Combo (this segment is VERY POPULAR and growing in Eastern Europe/Turkey) and Chevy would be the perfect brand and if made in Poland could be sent to the U.S. for fleet use.

Just a thought - Do you think (if priced right) there would be any interest in the Impala in Europe (Eastern Europe/Russia in particular) or is it just too big?

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

Daewoo is GM, which is Chevy in Europe. It's not like this happened yesterday, shouldn't we be over this by now?

I stand by what I said.

There's a "GM Daewoo, GM China & International News" section. It belongs there.

If you absolutely don't want to put it the Daewoo News section, at least put it in the Opel News section (which is also supposed to include GM European Industry News).

I know that Daewoo is GM. Do you know that this forum is subdivised in sections? Because actually, pretty much everything discussed here is GM... that's why there are subforums.