After a six-year run, General Motors has discontinued the Chevrolet HHR, a one-time rival for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The Chevrolet Orlando, which has already replaced the HHR in certain global markets, will not be sold in the USA, which was the largest market for the ‘Heritage High Roof’. GM Korea will soon start building a version of the Orlando for Mexico and Canada, however.
GM is not alone in abandoning this segment of the US market: Ford, having stated that it would import the C-MAX from Spain, recently cancelled such plans. This means that the Mazda5 is now the only small minivan available to US buyers.
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The HHR and its commercial van derivative, the HHR Panel, were made at the Ramos Arizpe 2 plant in the Mexican state of Coahuila. That facility now builds only the Chevrolet Captiva/Captiva Sport as well as the Cadillac SRX and Saab 9-4X twins.
The nearby Ramos Arizpe 1 plant, meanwhile, continues to build the Chevrolet Chevy small car for the eleventh year running. Production of the 2012 model year version started in June, according to production data issued by General Motors. The Chevy, which is popular in Mexico, is a range of sedans and three-door hatchbacks that is based on the 1993-shape Opel Corsa. Other models on this S 4200 architecture or an evolution of it, are made at facilities in Brazil, Argentina and China.
Author: Glenn Brooks
