GM's Gamma to go global
Even though GM is one of the biggest players in the global market, it hasn't had much luck in worldwide platform sharing. And it wants to see that change. Soon. Sources are saying that GM is working on a new small car platform known internally as Gamma. This platform could be the basis for the next Opel Corsa and Chevrolet Aveo, and could ultimately support models with an annual volume of 1.4 million cars starting in 2009. Although unconfirmed, Gammas could be built in Korea, China, Thailand, India, Germany, Eastern Europe, Mexico and Venezuela.
Hopefully the platform will be flexible enough (like Ford's C1) to allow the kind of variation regional markets have demanded from GM in the past. That kind of differentiation was what partially doomed past efforts for true global platforms from GM. Besides allowing cost savings on such huge economies of scale, this kind of architecture provides an advantage for suppliers who are global as well. The cars will be badged as Daewoos in Korea, Chevrolets in the United States and China and Opels in Europe.
The Gammas will replace models from two different platforms when they reach market, including the next generation Daewoo Kalos, Matiz and Gentra, the Chevrolet Aveo and the Opel Corsa, Tigra and Meriva.
[Source: Automotive News, sub req]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
isrltrkfn 9:56AM (11/19/2006)
huh? why don't we know about this already or why do we know about it?
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RZ 8:17PM (11/13/2006)
Looks like Toyota Corola.....Can't GM do any better? I mean if you going to copy a car from someone why not copy European Honda Civic R, or something from BMW.
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iQuack 8:22PM (11/13/2006)
I strongly dislike the cheap-looking plastic patch used at the trailing end of rear door windows. Looks stupid and glass would be both better looking and improve visibility.
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far jr 8:27PM (11/13/2006)
Hope they improve the powertrain options too. 34-35 MPG highway stinks for a car this small. They should be able to get at least 40 out of the miser version.
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Big A 8:45PM (11/13/2006)
Down under this abomination is called a Holden Barina.
It would have to be one of the worse handling cars around.
I'd hazard a guess GM-Daewoo (Korea) will be the Gamma platform development centre which doesn't bode well for a decent well though out Chassis
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far jr 8:52PM (11/13/2006)
iQuack... The car pictured is a 2007 Aveo (I think). That car is still based on the Daewoo Kalos platform, not the Global Gamma which should be the next Aveo redesign about 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Aveo
RZ... the Aveo competes with the Yaris/ Fit/ Versa crowd sizewise. I agree the exterior styling on this 2007 Aveo is terrible. better than the 2006, but still blah. Of course none of the cars in this class stike me as overly appealing to look at.
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Shawn 8:51PM (11/13/2006)
GM global car.... anyone remember the 80's version of the Pontiac LeMans?? Ugh. Let's hope the General does better this time around.
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Tiago do Vale 9:00PM (11/13/2006)
I think this can only work in emergent markets: that's what everybody does...
I remeber that Ford tried it with the global Mondeo (remember?), and soon returned to the past, with an expensive platform for Europe, and a cheap one for the rest of the world...
Different markets have different needs, and require different strategies to make money!
In the Mondeo example, an advanced platform in the US was an advantage in the market, but Ford realised that the american customer didn't care for it, so they used a cheaper one to make more profit...
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BOB 1:04AM (11/14/2006)
GOOD -- IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!
And I think the US market may be ready for this size car, done better than the Aveo.
The poster mentioning the Mondeo was wrong -- the Contour (US version) had no advantage for the non-sporting driver, as its passenger compartment was too small for this market, at the price, and it was therefore not the hit it should have been.
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Dustin 2:17AM (11/14/2006)
I'm still wondering how long it's going to take the US-based auto manufacturers to grasp the idea that the "new" global economy is causing the ground beneath them to move. This seems to be a bold-move ;) in the right direction. I'm glad, being an American, that they at least have the business clarity to understand that they need to be agile now. This platform-sharing is obviously the smart way to do business, and from a consumer standpoint, the largest benefit is the idea that we can get a fairly-proven architecture at a substantially lowered cost. From a business standpoint, it's of course going to save them loads on R&D, engineering, production, and costs involved with improvements/recalls/mechanic training. I say, let the unified platforms reign! It'd be nice to see GM and Ford, et al. regain some of their lost market share, and renew credibility of a solid product viable for a consumer investment.
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Richard Warren 8:16AM (11/14/2006)
"I'm still wondering how long it's going to take the US-based auto manufacturers to grasp the idea that the "new" global economy is causing the ground beneath them to move."
They did long ago. Ever notice how many countries the domestics assemble and sell in? The domestics were "imports" far before the new companies came on line. Notice where their bigger profits are coming from?
Something else to consider, the way the US handles it's foreign affairs, lots of people won't buy US goods because of it. Political pressures cause us a lot of sales worldwide. We need to stop stepping on our own dicks.
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Joe Gillerman 3:54AM (11/17/2006)
I like my 2006 Aveo 4-dr hatchback because it's SHORT! I can easily park my motorcycle in front of the Aveo and lock the garage. This newer model is about a foot longer and I can't park both car and motorcycle in one parking space. So I'll stay with the shorter model. Previously I had a Chevy Tracker 2-dr and that one was really short, which made it a piece of cake to work on my bike.
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