The Chevrolet Orlando You Will Never See…
…unless you go to Europe!
Chevrolet Orlando show car: Not U.S. bound
Chevrolet contributes at least 70 percent of U.S. sales for General Motors. That isn’t likely to change unless buyers suddenly get a hankering for Buick and GMC or if Cadillac sales explode.
But that isn’t a bad thing either — when I rubbed shoulders with Chevrolet brass in Washington, D.C. last month as part of the Chevrolet Cruze national PR roll out, I learned that Chevrolet’s big slice of the pie is just fine with GM management. Why knock what works? And, Chevrolet is by far the strongest weapon in the GM arsenal, on sale in more than 130 markets worldwide.
Product Line
Top to bottom Chevrolet’s product line is new, significantly updated or soon to get refreshed. There are a few products such as the full-size Chevrolet Impala which could use an update sooner rather than later, but that hasn’t hurt Chevy.
The Cruze will soon replace the Cobalt and a smaller vehicle will slot beneath it in the near term. The Camaro is a wonderful halo model and strong coupe, Chevy trucks continue to sell well and crossovers such as the Traverse and Equinox are stylish, roomy and fuel efficient.
One crossover that will NOT be sold in the United States is the Chevrolet Orlando. Based on the platform underpinning the Cruze, the Orlando was supposed to be sold in the U.S., but GM later decided against it. Slightly smaller than the Equinox, but offering 7-passenger seating, the Orlando would likely compete with the Equinox for customers. And that is a big no-no for Chevrolet.
Orlando Absence
When I asked Chevrolet management about the Orlando (in this case Chuck Russell, who is in charge of GM’s small car operation), it was explained to me that GM doesn’t believe that every vehicle it builds needs to be sold all over the world.
The Orlando fits nicely with Chevrolet Europe’s product plans and will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Automobile 2010) in October (press days are on September 30 and October 1). But there isn’t a need for the vehicle in the United States, thus its absence.
Chevrolet Europe has seen its sales slip this year over last, mostly due to the end of government-backed “cash for clunkers” type programs. With the Orlando’s introduction in early 2011, Chevrolet will have a model that should compete well across Europe. Powered by a 1.8-liter gas or 2.0-liter diesel engine, the Orlando will be one of four new Chevrolet models to make their Paris debut this year according to Automotive News.
Photo: General Motors Company
