US: GM to build Chevrolet Cruze at Lordstown plant
By: Glenn Brooks, Thursday, July 10, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
The replacement for North America's Delta architecture Chevrolet Cobalt is to be built at General Motors' Lordstown facility, the OEM has confirmed. The current model, which was introduced for the 2005 model year, is currently enjoying something of a second wind, with sales, up 18.5% to 114,250 in H1, prompting GM to add a third shift to the Ohio plant from 4 August.
"This is one of the first global vehicles GM has talked about and it will be a Chevrolet Cruze no matter where it's sold," Nancy Libby, a Chevrolet spokeswoman announced, as news emerged that the car to premiere at the Paris motor show in October will be all but identical to the North American model.
"It's primarily the same car, but there are small tweaks to meet local regulations," Libby added. "The grille might be changed because one is more familiar on European streets than in the US," she told The Detroit News.
GM Europe is yet to announce where its Chevrolet Cruze will be sourced from, with South Korea and Russia, or indeed both, having been suggested. In that region, the car will replace the GM Daewoo-built Chevrolet Nubira (Lacetti in some markets). The first bodystyle for the region, like the car at Paris, be a four-door sedan. Replacements for the current five-door hatchback and wagon should follow, while North America will no doubt receive a sedan and a coupe to replace today's Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5. It is not known if there will be a distinct replacement for the G5.
Production at Lordstown is due to start in summer 2010, while sources now believe GM may keep build of the Cobalt and/or G5 going as a cheaper model. As for powertrains, it is thought that these will be produced at Flint in Michigan, with a 1.4-litre version of Opel's recently announced I4 turbo expected to be the Cruze's base unit.
GM Europe, which initially said it would issue an image of the Chevrolet Cruze on 9 July, now states that it is awaiting the approval of the car's development team in South Korea.
Published on Thursday, July 10, 2008
Free e-newsletters
Our free E-Newsletter service is an excellent way of staying up to date with news and features from around the global auto industry.
