More European Cars for the USA?

[C20LET_50]

Ford's new CEO Alan Mulally has sent a delagation of experts from Detroit to Ford's European headquarters in Cologne this week to check the possibilities of exports of European Ford models to the USA.
Successful cars in Europe like Ford Mondeo, Focus, S-Max and Galaxy are possible models which could be sold in the USA under Mercury batch.

Same way GM goes under Saturn batch with the Opel Vectra/Aura or maybe the Opel Astra next year.

But the difference to Ford is GM/Saturn gives a nice car back to Europe > the Opel GT

Source: Handelsblatt.com

[marlboromike]

But the difference to Ford is GM/Saturn gives a nice car back to Europe > the Opel GT

Source: Handelsblatt.com[/quote]

Sorry...Europe gave us the SKY

[C20LET_50]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

But the difference to Ford is GM/Saturn gives a nice car back to Europe > the Opel GT
Source: Handelsblatt.com

Sorry...Europe gave us the SKY

Sorry Mike,

my formulation wasn't quite correct. Europe gave you the design (Opel/Vauxhall) and the base for the cute little 4-banger Ecotec Turbo engines, but you are building that car over there. With a design only you can't drive

30 years ago it was the other direction: Opel GT's (old) where shipped from Bochum (Germany) to the USA.

[Wolf@opel-GT-Forum]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

But the difference to Ford is GM/Saturn gives a nice car back to Europe > the Opel GT

Source: Handelsblatt.com

Sorry...Europe gave us the SKY

jep... And we want the GT back
What a nice "international understanding"

[OPELGTdriver]

Next year the ASTRA goes to USA

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...34&docid=31143

[wt2ga]

Originally Posted by OPELGTdriver

Next year the ASTRA goes to USA

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...34&docid=31143

At the same time the US made Ion goes away and Spring Hill Tennessee will not be building anything...

[C20LET_50]

Originally Posted by wt2ga

At the same time the US made Ion goes away and Spring Hill Tennessee will not be building anything...

As we have heard in Europe the Astra will be assembled in Belgium.
I'm astonished that at our European high price level and a Dollar / Euro relation at ~ 1.35 US$ per € it could be an economical advantage to produce in Belgium instead of the USA, like they do with the AURA (Opel Vectra).
Additional you have the costs of oversea transport.

[wt2ga]

Originally Posted by C20LET_50

As we have heard in Europe the Astra will be assembled in Belgium.
I'm astonished that at our European high price level and a Dollar / Euro relation at ~ 1.35 US$ per € it could be an economical advantage to produce in Belgium instead of the USA, like they do with the AURA (Opel Vectra).
Additional you have the costs of oversea transport.

My guess is that GM will sell the Astra for two years as the new small Saturn. Then Loardstown Ohio will build it’s replacement along with the Cobalt and G5, all based on the new Delta platform. Finally GM will have all its small cars built in one house on a three shift operation.

[C20LET_50]

Originally Posted by wt2ga

My guess is that GM will sell the Astra for two years as the new small Saturn. Then Loardstown Ohio will build it’s replacement along with the Cobalt and G5, all based on the new Delta platform. Finally GM will have all its small cars built in one house on a three shift operation.

This could stand for that GM meanwhile will earn no money with that car or even loose some $$ per unit over that two years