VIDEO: Ed Welburn and Chevy’s Triplets
We caught up with Ed Welburn and Dave Lyon, GM Director of Design for the Asia-Pacific region, during the New York Auto Show. Both Welburn and Lyon had discuss the small size of the new Chevy concept cars — the Beat, Groove, and Trax. -Alicia Dorset, blog editor
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- Posted in Auto Shows
gacSTclass
Cool videos, Ed, I love these cars.
A couple of requests:
1. I hope someone is working on a response to the dozens of replies in Mr. Lutz’ “Global a Go-Go” post where they ask about the Chinese Buick Park Avenue.
If no one in Detroit replies to all of that (or if the excuses are hollow and reasons vague), then we’ll lose faith in the feedback effort.
2. At some point let us know what car you are going with of the triplets, if any. Don’t let this fizzle out and then we find out the Beat will be made but only sold in Global Chevrolet dealerships like Chevy Europe and India, and not the Americas.
darren
Kudos to Mr. Welburn and Mr. Lyon. These concepts show that GM can design stylish, modern and relevant vehicles for the 21st century. Each of these three little vehicles fits a particular niche, and i think all three would be very well received.
John
Not impressed by that video.
If you keep treating cars like generic “products”, you’re not going to be able to charge more than commodity prices for them.
It’s an econocar, not a hot rod and not a running shoe. Get some people excited about econocars to sell it. Talk about reliability, nimble handling, a high-revving engine that still gets good gas mileage.
Come on. It’s a hatchback, not rat-rod inspired swimwear. Talk about the car itself!
darndot
I have read where Bob Lutz said they most likely will not show up in the USA. I really think that GM will find that if the MPG is real at 50MPG, they will sell well everywhere not just urban areas.
I could see them pulled easily behind a RV. I would use on for a daily driver, an d leave my Silverado in the garage.
Build them and people will buy them if the price is right. $8-9K basic models with a fully loaded at $12K.
Jeffrey Tayler
Please make all three of these cars! When it comes to vehicle selection, I wish I was not always a second class citizen to the mid-section of the country. Cars like this really suit urban areas, and I hope they could work in the middle of the country too. Don’t know the economics of it all, I just know I like these cars, and I would buy one knowing I could still comfortably park anyplace in San Francisco.
jg
What is the point of these cars? Why get people excited about concepts?
We’re still waiting for the Buick Velite, Chevy Bel Air, Chevy Nomad, and Buick Bengal.
Also, the Buick Park Avenue unveiled in China.
Paul
I don’t care about styling. Give me engine and transmission details. Give me mpg estimates. Give me info on the turning radius and the cargo capacity.
Not everyone buys a car with their gut. Some people actually think about what car they choose.
Wayne Routly
It’s great to hear about the triplets but how long will it take to bring them to market in North America? The new Camaro is still 2-3 years away and one can’t help but wonder if the market will have changed. It seems it still takes GM too long to bring product to market. In the meantime the offshore keep securing more market share.
Jason Stokes
These three cars are absolutely laughable. They look like something out of a PokeMon cartoon.
And you are such proud parents, GM. Sorry to call your babies ugly. I’ll bet they are cheap though and we all know that is of the utmost important. Please, stop the silliness and give us some real designs with more content. These are just not going to get the job done.
john
Hi Chev were to bring (acording to my local paper) 3 small diesel cars from the U.K. last year? I had to buy a v.w. as it was the only game in town. I would like one off the big 3 to introduce some of their Canadian cars with diesel engines. They have lots and lots of north american cars (in the U.K.) with diesel engines in them. We also talk about the green effect but I would hate to think how much it would cost and how much polution it would create to dispose of the cells. Thank you John
SteveG
The question is, will you build them?
And why are you letting the Cobalt languish without any real improvements like a telescoping steering wheel and more comfortable seats?
Chris (Toronto)
I think that each of these cars is exceptionally good looking. Hopefully the mileage is very high. However, I re-express my prior post: there is no point in showcasing these if you are not going to sell them in N.A. In fact, it may be a PR nightmare to show these off to the world (along with the Volt) and NOT build them. “Look what we could do if we wanted to, but don’t want to” will not win GM any positive opinions and will do more harm than good.
Build these, build the Volt. Sell them in North America. As I mentioned in my post on the Volt column, if you wait until all of the shortcomings of the Volt are solved, you’ve waited too long. The Prius has limitations but Toyota has built it. It is likely the reason for Toyota having a ‘green’ image despite the mgp that the Tundra et al get. This is a great opportunity to get some positive press as a green company - if you build these.
Thanks,
Chris (Toronto)
talis
I could see the groove as the next HHR… hummm…..
Gerard
My choice is the Beat. I love the design, even though there have been some on the Web shouting “Scion!” I think the idea of a new Chevy sub-compact or micro-car is excellent. The Aveo isn’t a bad car, but the competition has been ramped up since the Aveo first came to these shores. The Trax is probably the most interesting of the three, being remarked by Mr. Welburn as an “urban SUV.” If the Trax can offer real off-road potential (unlike the Jeep Compass), it can find a sizeable audience. With fuel costs the way they are, GM and other automakers must remake the SUV. The truck market is shrinking, and flooding a million discounted Tahoes, Silverados, and Suburbans won’t do.
Perry Kravec
I don’t care about cars designed in Korea… I want to see cars designed and built in the US!
Cars like the Chevy Volt!
I want a electric car now!
Almost everyone I know would buy a electric car like the volt… right now.
Edward Hayes
Hay Ed, Eddie and Eddy
What do you mean if? Finally got the chance to visit the NY Auto Show today. Nice triplets, they put Scion to shame, but what do you mean if you build them?
If what, gas prices trend up?
If there is still a city?
If there are still young people who want it?
If the competition goes there?
If we come to our senses? I mean what is the if????
You are proving to us and yourselves that you have the ability to be great, but it seems there is a lack of will, drive or passion to get there. And just today they put out news that US automakers fell under 50% of the US market. Unacceptable.
Now I know there is good news like in China. Great news.
First, they discovered Buick’s soul in Australia with the Efigy, now they discovered Buick’s body in China. Now we can stop digging her grave in America.
You put Buick in a third of a showroom, gave her a third of your effort, customers give her a third of their time so you get a third of a sales decline. And the statistics last month prove it. Sales at Buick (US) down 32% in March 2007.
Let me put it this way, if GM is in charge of building the Great Wall of China. ”
Ahh, GM you left a big 500 mile long hole in the middle.”
“Oh, don’t worry we shored up the Eastern and Western wall so that will take care of it.”
“Okay, but let me say that while you were doing that Acura, Infiniti and Lexus came in and ate up 1 million of your sales of your volume luxury brand.”
“Don’t worry, once we shore up the other parts we are going to get to that hole.”
Now I am worried. Like I said put Buick’s main headquarters in China.
A fellow employee told me about a show she watched in which some society held rats sacred. My response, “Well rats need some place to call their own.” In the same way Buick needs a home. Like Saab has Sweden, Opel has Germany, Daewoo has South Korea. So too Buick needs a place to be on top. Then maybe by the time she gets to the US she will not be the hole in your armor.
You know on this forum and in your business circles you can hear a lot of things, the customer alone tells the truth and the statistics don’t lie. Neither have I.
In short…
Buick is the last piece of the puzzle and your weakest link. Put her link in China, set that piece up over there where she can be on top. Then that big gaping hole that your competition mastered so well might finally be closed.
Neurochubby
I’m waiting to trade in my beloved Aveo for the Trax!
noel park
How about an Aveo that gets the same mileage as a Yaris? Walk before you try to run.
Amen to Steve G, 4/13, 10:05 PM. How about a higher mileage Cobalt?
John
I really like the cars, especially the groove. Why isn’t gm going to bring them to NA? Why does GM think that NA doesn’t want small fuel-efficient cars?
Also, please reply about the Buick.
Gary Dikkers
Half a century ago, then-GM Chairman Charlie Wilson said “What’s good for General Motors is good for America.” Is that still true?
Ed Welburn, Dave Lyon, Bob Lutz, and Ed Peper all express excitment about the Triplets, but why?
Bob Lutz has already admitted none of the Triplets are likely to be sold in the U.S. because because they would be unprofitable to build in this country, and therefore wouldn’t do anything for GM’s domestic fleet CAFE.
As reported in the Detroit Press, 5-Apr-07:
As reported in the Detroit Press, 12-Apr-07:
So why all the excitement about concept cars we are not likley to see here, and that, in fact, may never actually be built considering GM’s record with concept cars?
All I can deduce is that it must be part of some disinformation or propaganda campaign. Make a big to-do about the Triplets at the New York International Auto Show in an attempt to rebrand your image. But that’s only an illusion if you have no plans to make or sell them here.
It would be good for America if you made one of those cars in the U.S. using U.S. workers. But Bob Lutz has already made up his mind that doing that wouldn’t be good for GM.
Engine Charlie Wilson must be doing a high-speed yo-yo in his grave. (Having once been a Marine Corps fighter pilot, Mr Lutz will understand what that means.)
V/R
Gary Dikkers
gwwyjjliu
Please do us a favor, and don’t talk about these cars unless you truly intend to sell them in the US. It is clear from GM’s recent actions that the company’s priorities lie not with its core American market, but with overseas customers. It’s painful to see GM give up on its core market by not offering the best it has from around the world, and that includes these Chevy triplets.
I’m an American living in Shanghai, and I have seen the new Buick Park Avenue up close and personal. It is even more heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, astonishingly gorgeous than the pictures suggest. I never would have believed that GM had it in them to design and build such an outstanding car.
American Buick buyers deserve the Park Avenue. Rick Wagoner once said (about the SSR) that sometimes you have to do something just because it feels right. If you want evidence that this car is so “right,” come and look at the huge crowds surrounding the Park Avenue at the Shanghai Auto Show. This car is getting a standing ovation from the toughest and most demanding Buick audience in the world.
So please do the right thing and fast track the Chevy Trax et.al, and the Buick Park Avenue to the US. Give your GM customers reason to hope for a bright future in the world’s largest automobile market. Give us something to believe in.
noel park
Thanks Gary, right on point as always.
The SSR sure felt right, alright. GM could have gone a long way toward developing a competetive high mileage small car for what they blew on that fiasco.
Korean Chevrolets, Chinese Buicks, German Saturns. Closing US plants and buying out the workers. Chalmers Johnson and Kevin Phillips would seem to have it right.
Once I wrote here that this was like a Harvard Business School case of the unravelling of a great industrial corporation. Actually, it is more like watching the history of the unravelling of a great nation. Did anyone watch Rome on HBO?
By the way, I understand that German auto firms have every bit of the same issues of unions, wages, and legacy costs as US firms. How then can GM afford to import Opels and sell them as Saturns?
noel park
I just heard a report on NPR that Mr. Waggoner is in India today. He is supposedly talking about the introduction of the Cevrolet Spark, whatever that is.
The commentator said that GM’s previous offerings in India have been unsuccessful because what Indians want is smaller, cheap, fuel efficient cars. Hello?
He is also supposedly discussing sourcing more auto parts in India.
Joe D. Cleveland
Hideous. That’s the first word that came to my mind when looking at these cars. They rank right there in style with the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and any other ugly duckling. I don’t care if you do get 50 mpg out of them. I gag just looking at them, so I could never even get myself behind the wheel.
Just because a car is frugal doesn’t mean it has to be ugly. Although, I will say I can’t remember a single econobox in history that was unanimously “good looking”. Perhaps here’s an oportunity for GM: create the world’s first 50 mpg car that looks good next to a Corvette.
Go do some homework on that one.
Bob Miller
Noel
the new Saturn Aura is based off the Opel Vectra, but assembled right here in the USA, in Kansas.
Bob Lutz
Sell these cars here (actually, sell the Opel Corsa here as the Saturn Corsa) - and sell the Buick Park Avenue (China Edition) here too.
CCRyder
Earth to GM:
Are you guys reading this stuff?
Please respond to the numerous posts asking about the Park Avenue. Please explain to us the reasons why we dont have a car like this here in the states.
As for the triplets, who really cares if you aren’t planning on selling them here.
People will start to ignore this blog if you don’t actually read and respond.
It seems that GM is losing traction again. We were excited with the new Malibu and CTS, please don’t let that excitement fade.
We are on your side!!
CC
noel park
Thanks Bob, best news I’ve heard today!
noel park
Joe:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I happen to think that the Yaris 3 door is as cute as a button. I said yesterday that it is a lot more of a modern incarnation of the original Austin/Morris Mini, as a light, simple, high efficiency, car than the current 2700# plus Mini. I sort of have to agree with you on the Fit and the Versa, however.
I don’t want to scare people with such positive comments, but I have said before the Aveo 5 door is arguably the best looking of the current econobox crop. If it gets updated like the 4 door next year, it might even get better.
If GM would put a substantial efort into making the mileage of the Aveos a segment leader, instead of so mediocre, I think the sales would do a lot better. High mileage bragging rights are gold right now. Spare me the spin about the “highway” mileage.
Why not take the established platform you have and make it better? Wouldn’t that be cheaper than starting over again? You know how to differentiate products by massaging the sheetmetal, wheels, etc.
How about an Aveo hybrid? I’m pretty sure Daewoo could build it if you gave them enough engineering support. I think that the Prius is the segment leader over Honda because it gets the best mileage and exudes engineering innovation. If the Civic hybrid beat the Prius on mileage, it bet it would outsell it, stand alone body or no.
I have total confidence that you could diferentiate an Aveo hybrid enough (see above) to make it stand out on the road.
I was sitting at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and Granvia Altamira in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA last night and saw 3 Prius(es?) stopped at one traffic light. One block after the green light, I saw a fourth. This is a very upscale neighborhood. These people can afford to be driving Benzes or BMWs and they are buying Prius(es). Say what you will about yuppies, gentrification, et al, isn’t this your target demographic in the end?
edvard
There has been a lot of talk concerning whether a car is actually made in the USA versus made in say- China/Japan/Europe, etc. As Geroen pointed out a few posts back, something like 70% of domestic cars have US sourced parts under the hood, which was a lot higher than I imagined.
But as the world economy grows, I see opportunity out there in the auto industry where others see a decline. I’m not sure how realistic it is to hope that Americans will keep right on working on assembly lines driving bolts all day long and remaining competitive. US factories have already proven that they can compete with other first world countries during the 80’s and 90’s when they made the rapid transformation to high automation and efficient manufacturing processes in order to compete eye-to-eye with Japanese companies. But with many countries running equally efficient factories, how does US car manufacturing fit into the equation? Through research and development.
The way I see it, we are now on the cusp of a new era where otto’s old internal combustion engine is in need of replacement with an entirely new drivetrain and energy source. For those in the US auto industry, I would think a concentration on research and development, engineering, design, fuel, and alternative building processes would be a better path than to pursue driving bolts and installing carpet.I’m with the rest of the people here in that as a fellow American, it would feel good to know that the car I was driving was made entirely in the US. But I don’t think this is entirely realistic in this day and age.
Jim
2 words: Astra diesel
DansAm
Hey I like these. If I had to choose Id pick the one with the electric 4wd, but Id mix it up with the tdi engine and make the electric not only work as a traction control device but make it work as kinda a hybrid as well. Then put a full glass sunroof on it ala g6 and make a woody version with a gm surf board and rack available (ala vw guitar). A fun car that gets 50+ mpg and fits four and can fit my rc airplanes sign me up dude!!
DansAm
Gary Dikkers
Noel Park said,
Noel,
Actually, that Chevy Spark looks pretty interesting. Here is the link from the Indian newspaper The Hindu Chevrolet Spark
I did some currency conversion and GM is planning on selling those cars in India for $7,400 to $9,300.
It appears to me that they don’t need their Triplets. They already have a small car that no doubt gets good mileage, and that they can sell for reasonable price — and without the edgy, radical styling those three design-exercise “concept cars” have.
Noticed something Wagoner said in India that confirms my belief that what is good for GM is no longer good for America.
The Hindu quotes Wagoner as saying:
I’d say that’s pretty ominous for GM’s UAW auto builders in the U.S. and Canada.
“Engine Charlie’s” 1950’s statement of “What is good for GM is good for America.” is obviously a relic of the past that no longer applies.
V/R
Gary Dikkers
noel park
Gary:
Right. Jason Zeversky had the first comment under “Global A-Go-Go” below. He began with “Just don’t turn GM into Emerson Radio of RCA for that matter…”
Talk about prescient.
On the other hand I heard a report yesteday that Chrysler is planning to build 2 new plants in Michigan, and update others. The commentator said that the idea is to dramatically raise the level of automation, so as to minimize labor costs, and thus be competitive with imports.
What a concept
This not be particularly good news for the UAW, et al, either, but it has to be better than exporting all of the jobs.
Playing off of Edvard’s excellent comment above, I have often wondered why we cannot use our capabilities for innovation to design new manufacturing processes to offset the cheap labor advantages of the offshore producers while maintaining a decent standard of living for our workers. Let the machines drive the bolts and the well paid auto workers program and maintain the machines
The report said that the budget for this project was $2 billion. Pretty interesting for a corporation that is getting bids of $4.5 billion for the whole thing.
We are just going to drive our old Impala until the wheels fall off, and see what the General does in the meantime.
Rene Curry
Hello Ed,
You have seen all the excitement for the China Buick designs. Since that market has higher margins and potential I would be releasing my ‘first-offs’ there also.
That said, you still can’t forget about the NA market. Ho-hum ain’t gonna sell!
I think you should pack up your core design team from both mainland China & NA and have them spend 3 days around Hong Kong & Kowloon. It’s a whole different automotive feel. It’s an automotive melting pot. You need that design feel and pull it quickly into NA & mainland China before the Japanese do.
The Japanese have made deep penetration into these two markets without using their best designs.
Keep up the good work and thanks for allowing us armchair execs to comment.
Mike S.
As a loyal Ford driver I would definitely take a look at these cars. As stated above, watered down versions won’t hold the appeal that these promise. It would be nice though to own a car that didn’t force me to take note of the money lost to gasoline purchases on a monthly basis.
Hur Ben
As a student at a large urban university, I think GM has it right on with the Beat. Parking is tuff on campus and this car would definitely fit in some of those tight spots. So many of us want eco-cars but so far they are too “euro” looking. Product placement tip: put the beat on the next “Fast & Furious” movie or street-racer flick…and it is sure to dominate the urban market.
Charles Rohde
Remember Lotus?
GM spent alot of money there and now the Tesla is coming on market and you are still just showing and I repeat showing the Volt concepts. It’s time to get it on the road.
erik
“i think that General Motors should bring the Minicars to the united state, i mean u have aevo witch is a small Daewoo platform, so i think there is room for Minicar in chevys line up..And it would be good business point for GM to do this, compition for Smart car, to thats coming to the united states sometime next year!.Gm think about it! Sencerly Erik Adams