![\"The production model will carry the spirit of the expressive Beat concept, offering compact, city-friendly dimensions and a small-displacement engine that delivers excellent fuel economy. It adds further depth and breadth to Chevrolet’s global lineup, which is sold in more than 90 countries, giving the brand a leadership position in the segment – the fastest-growing automotive segment in many regions around the world.\" (text courtesy autospies.com)](https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/chevrolet_beat_2.jpg "\\"The production model will carry the spirit of the expressive Beat concept, offering compact, city-friendly dimensions and a small-displacement engine that delivers excellent fuel economy. It adds further depth and breadth to Chevrolet’s global lineup, which is sold in more than 90 countries, giving the brand a leadership position in the segment – the fastest-growing automotive segment in many regions around the world.\\" (text courtesy autospies.com)")
Give all the hype surrounding Chevrolet's forthcoming plug-in electric – gas Volt, I guess we've got to call the Chevrolet Beat GM's mini-Hail Mary. Or is that MINI Hail Mary? Actually, let's stick with the small "m." Lest we forget, the Beat is/would be no less a Daewoo than the South Korean-built Aveo. Regardless, GM's Car Czar Maximum Bob himself is floating the micro-car-shaped trial balloon to The Wall Street Journal, as above. Freelancing Detroit News scribe Sharon Terlep's lead makes it clear that obfuscation is the order of the day. "General Motors said it is giving a higher priority to deciding whether it will bring the next-generation Chevrolet Beat mini car — a vehicle it sells overseas — to the U.S. market in the 2012 timeframe." [Note: higher. Not highest.] Meanwhile, Ford is making a similar move. I mean, mulling. "Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it has no plans on the table to bring its micro-sized Ka mini car to the U.S., but it is monitoring the success that Smart is having. 'We have small cars on the shelf all around the world,' Ford spokesman Jay Ward said. 'If at some point we decide to bring [the Ka] over here, we would be in a position to do so.'" Sensible caution or institutional paralysis? We report, you deride.
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Love the photo… BEAT indeed. (ahem).
Isn’t everybody getting sick of all the talk? That “ace” should have been up GM’s sleeve all along; 2012 is too late – there will be too much competition in the segment by then, too late to help GM. The “ancient” Cobalt-HHR sales will barely pay the light bill.
Near TOTAL lack of foresight.
These guys have so much personal prestige sunk into the claim that “Americans don’t want small cars” that they’ll do anything to avoid being proven wrong.
They even had Daimler convinced – keeping Smart from U.S. shores for years.
It took Mini from BMW to get them wondering.
These cars should already be in showrooms.
I hope they don’t base their decision on how the SMART is doing. People forget that the SMART is a city car, with its biggest advantage being its small size (at the expense of passenger and cargo space). Even with this advantage in the small city centers of Europe, it never has been a huge seller. Here in the wide spaces of the good ol’ US of A, this small stature gives the perception of being unsafe. While it is relatively economical, unless you get the Diesel (BTW, not available in the U.S.) the fuel economy isn’t anything to write home about. I believe the current Ka gets better fuel mileage than the Fortwo and you can fit four people in it (in a pinch at least).
Here’s an idea; why doesn’t one of the Big 2.8 take the lead on something instead of waiting for the other guy(s) to make the first move. 2012 is too late.
How much does GM pay Lutz again? Higher priority to thinking about it? Last night we celebrated Independence Day by watching part of the HBO mini-series John Adams. If only we had industrial leadership today with the courage and fortitude shown by the founders.
I don’t think the Ford Ka is a good idea for the American market. Here in Brazil it’s main selling point is price. For size and fuel economy one can buy the Ford Fiesta which has roughly the same numbers, is a bit more expensive but has better internal space and higher quality materials (although still at a lower standard than what you would find in an american car with “bad” interior).
“2012 is too late” (and similar comments)
Hey guys, what’s the rush? These decisions must be made deliberately…very deliberately. There are committees to be appointed, organized and staffed. Market trends must be studied (will Americans accept gas-saving vehicles?). Design alternatives should be explored (will it be a big, luxurious small car or a very big, luxurious small car?). Potential risks must be researched (would the car cannibalize sales of Yukons and Escalades?). Multiple marketing plans must be developed (so the car can be sold by five divisions). And executive reviews will need to be thoroughly–very thoroughly–conducted. 2012 is hardly enough time!
Problem is, this surge in demand for the most economical small cars is a severe knee-jerk reaction to a rapid rise in gas prices.
It was just last year I would pass a Toyota dealer for weeks on end and notice a whole line of Yaris’s that weren’t selling — now you’re on a list for one. Ditto for a Chevy dealer who would hide a dozen Aveos in the back of the lot and put the Tahoes prominently along the street.
Why would we think that any carmaker would know that someday a majority of Americans would embrace the little cars they so obviously despise?
We all know what would happen if gas drops to $3 or below again — great deals on slightly used subcompacts.
wave is correct. By 2012, it will be too late. Either sales of small cars will be dead, or GM will already be dead. Either way, it’s too little too late.
By the way, driving a Beat is almost a sure way to ensure your passenger doesn’t look that good.
Wow. It takes GM more time to decide whether to bring an existing car to the U.S. market as it does to design a new car that requires technology that does not exist yet. They have some real streamlined business processes over there.
Detroit spent so much time and effort convincing Americans that the size of their vehicle was related to the size of their package that they ended up believing their own bullshit. Now Detroit and Americans are unprepared for a future where gringos will have to drive the same type of cars the rest of the world drives.
Autobraz is right. The Ka isn’t appropriate given we are already getting the Fiesta.
Lutz gets paid to think about thinking. This must be a new form of post-modern management where you don’t have to do anything but say you’re thinking about it.
That way, if you miss out on profits because you couldn’t make a decent small car, you can always point to statistics and studies and BS like that. It’s perfect in the legal sense since there’s no way anybody can prove that you are liable for anything. Of course, you never get around to making the small car, because you never pulled the trigger because you could never figure out a way to get the credit for it without avoiding the responsibility.
Wave, that’s a load of crap; several years ago (at my previous job), I was driven through a Chevy dealer to look at the hundreds of unsold Tahoes. It’s been long enough that even the idiots at GM should have gotten it by now; but they seem compelled to PROVE that Americans don’t want small cars. They apparently think they’re still the only game in town.
I had a Chevy dealer right across the street — I could see the lot from my windows (dealer shut down last year). Aveos and Cobalts were in the back and just weren’t moving — I’d see the same ones every day. Of course, the profit per sale was probably a couple of hundred dollars versus several thousand.
So what you’re saying is that, up until the last 6 months, Chevy dealers were stocking unpopular SUVs and trucks instead of the “popular” subcompacts.
Sadly, everyone other car maker tried to get on the gravy train, and they probably regret it now. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan didn’t introduce full-size trucks and SUVs because they were poor sellers.
Chrysler will beat them by at least 2 years with the Dodge Hornet.
The Beat “enjoys” a “higher” priority? Gee, take your time fellas!
Regarding the contrasting opinions of Stein X and Autobrás…
the Ford Ka. It’s a mini car. Not a compact. A compact is Fiesta sized (more like subcompact to Americans) “moves” with a 1.2 L engine, and goes like s… with anything above 1.6L (fast sprints, low final speed of course). A Ka however could make it in the US a fashion icon. Something totally hollywood. Give one to Paris Hilton (trash selling trash, this is just so modern there’s no way in hell it wouln’t work, LOL), it could make it. So mechanicals, yes, like Europe and Brazil, but interiors, make them gorgeous. Small, space saving, green like anything, premium interior and sound system, but most importantly. Something significant to younger buyers.
Just what Ford needs.
Sorry this kind of got hijacked into a Ford Ka thread. All the more proof positive to what I’ll say next Mr Farago. The Ford Ka just keeps creeping up on these pages. How about some in-depth analysis by some of your oh-so talented writers? Sounds like a good, controversial editorial to me. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll will wake Ford up before Fiat comes in and steals Ford’s thunder with its 500