Filed under: Chevrolet, GM, USA
GM hopes to make more money on smaller cars
The General, along with the rest of the American automakers, has a long established history of making the most profits from the largest vehicles. Small cars from the Detroit 3 have therefore fallen way behind the imports when it comes to desirability. GM Global Design Chief Ed Welburn went so far as to say, "In North America, we never did a good small car." Ouch. Instead, all the best designs come from overseas, which GM has plenty of experience in. "Today, we are able to draw on resources of design centers in Korea, Brazil and Europe who really know how to do small cars," says Welburn. Like the ones who designed the Aveo?So, if the Cobalt and Aveo are not good small cars, at least they'd better be cheap, right? Sure, but expect that to change too as upcoming replacements for its aging small cars will be more expensive than current models. The Chevrolet Cruze, not expected in the U.S. for at least a few more years, will cost an extra few thousand dollars compared to the Cobalt. Hopefully by then, the Beat will be properly engineered for the American market as well.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
a.brien 9:53PM (7/21/2008)
They had a small and innovative car some years ago called
the ev1 but i think that they sold the main part (the battery)
to chevron.
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Brent 10:40PM (7/21/2008)
Do you have any idea how much the EV1 actually cost per unit?
GoodCheer 9:14AM (7/22/2008)
Brent: About what any car would cost per unit if you only built 1000 of them, or build 2-3 per day max.
Luke 10:08PM (7/21/2008)
Why is good news always turned into bad news with some of the bloggers on Autobloggreen? Here's some good news: The Cobalt XFI is more efficient than any version of the Toyota Corolla, and it has considerably more horse power.
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dm789 12:58AM (7/22/2008)
Any proof of the more fuel efficient cobalt that could beat corolla? for god sake even GM so called small cars outside US lost to Japanese and Korean brand here and there? what made you think that some re badge cars from Korea? Europe? and Brazil could beat those other car companies that kept making small cars even though the gas price was very cheap back then?
GoodCheer 9:18AM (7/22/2008)
Cobalt FXC: 25 / 37
Corrola 1.8l: 27 / 35
(www.fueleconomy.gov)
Looks like just about a wash to me.
Christian 11:19PM (7/21/2008)
I find it funny to read that head line and then off to the right see
"downer of the day, Chevy Beat not coming to U.S."
I was actually looking into those.
GM if you want to make money selling smaller cars stop shooting yourself in the foot with your decisions like the above mentioned.
For the record, I've driven a Cobalt. Utter garbage.
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dm789 1:00AM (7/22/2008)
Any proof of the more fuel efficient cobalt that could beat corolla? for god sake even GM so called small cars outside US lost to Japanese and Korean brand here and there? what made you think that some re badge cars from Korea? Europe? and Brazil could beat those other car companies that kept making small cars even though the gas price was very cheap back then?
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Luke 1:44AM (7/22/2008)
"Any proof of the more fuel efficient cobalt that could beat corolla?"
Yes, the EPA's numbers.
And the small cars being spoken of much include the European lines, which are selling quite well there.
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Emil 3:03AM (7/22/2008)
GM has no reason not to produce efficient small cars. This one was of a great success at its time :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevette
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Phil 7:51AM (7/22/2008)
GM makes lots of good small cars under the Opel / Vauxhall brands. They just need to sell them in the US.
The Corsa, Astra and new Insignia are all considered to be near the top of their respective classes. I am looking forward to seeing the Insignia at the London motor show later this week.
This week, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson claimed that Vauxhall is the only car maker with no ugly cars in its range. High praise indeed!
http://www.opel.com
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CMiller 11:30AM (7/22/2008)
Alright those saying that the Cobalt is more fuel efficent than the Corrola. Looking at the EPA numbers you posted the Corrolla does better in the city and the Cobalt on the highway by 2 miles.
Wow, I would not call that a wash. Something tells me the combined cycle would be the same for both cars. I think the proper term is that these cars are equally efficent.
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GoodCheer 1:28PM (7/22/2008)
From the American Heritage Dictionary:
wash
(....)
n Informal
An activity, action, or enterprise that yields neither marked gain nor marked loss: "[The company] doesn't do badly. That is, it's a wash" (Harper's).
CMiller 2:16PM (7/22/2008)
Sorry bout that GoodCheer, meant to go after Luke's comment but went after you instead.
Got your point across quite well though :)
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