GM Daewoo Opens New Proving Ground In Korea

[JoeT]

GM Daewoo Opens Test Center In Korea

30 October 2007
www.korea.net

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, the Korean unit of U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp., opened a new test center in western Korea to boost vehicle quality and safety, company officials said Tuesday (Oct. 30).

GM Daewoo spent 100 billion won ($109 million) to build the proving ground and test center in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, near its main plant.

The facility is part of GM's plan to spend $6.7 billion on the Korean unit in 2009 as the struggling U.S. auto company looks for ways to boost sales outside the U.S.

At the opening ceremony, GM's visiting Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said the test center is an example how GM and its partners make efforts to ensure GM Daewoo's growth.



GM Opens Proving Ground In Korea

Australian Car Advice
5 November 2007
www.caradvice.com.au

If you thought the Korean fad was going to go away, think again. General Motors has just opened a $100 million proving ground in Korea.

Work on the 477,000-square-meter Cheong-Na Proving Ground began in October 2005 with Korea giving GM a 30-year rent-free lease of the land!


Why would Korea be so hospitable to GM? Daewoo’s business is dominated by exports, to give you an idea, last year the Korean company made 1.5 million cars of which only 8.5% were sold locally. This year Daewoo expects to reach 1.8 million units.

Click here to continue article

Shanghai GM To Establish Vehicle Proving Ground

[paul8488]

Well, GM is clearly serious about building world-class vehicles with its GMDAT arm. I thought it was a horrible idea when they bought Daewoo... and saw that I was wrong. Then I was worried that they'd just pump out minimalist, mediocre product to try and make a quick buck, but I also see that I'm wrong. I like being wrong sometimes!

[soloyosh]

118 acres is not that big... wonder what kind of surfaces they have there. For reference the GM DPG was 5000 acres.

[bcjohnso99]

Before you flame me, know that I am a GM fan and hope GM continues to lead the industry.

But off-shoring development is no different than the Koreans and **** importing cars from their home country. While I'm unlikely to by any automotive product that is imported to NA, I would not give a GMDAT vehicle any preference over a Japanese built vehicle. In fact, I'd be more likely to buy a ***/Korean vehicle with significant local content over a GM vehicle with little.

I hope GM does not miss this fact with its ambitious plans for GMDAT.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by soloyosh

118 acres is not that big... wonder what kind of surfaces they have there. For reference the GM DPG was 5000 acres.

118 Acres in Korea. S. Korea is a very small country. That is a lot of land in Korea

[2012Aveo]

GM uses "offshoring" to engineer, design and build their ultra B segment small vehicles because it is difficult to make a decent profit doing so in North America. I intend to purchase an "Offshore" GMDAT vehicle in a few years to replace my aging Honda Civic or Toyota Celica. Obviously from my signature I have no problem buying imported cars. In fact I am proud to drive whatever I want. And that includes a 1981 Buick Regal for 20 years.

[mikmak]

I plan on working there in 5-10 years. (I just made that plan)

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I plan on working there in 5-10 years. (I just made that plan)

High-speed Matiz testing... dream big man!