Holden has begun a new export programme to Korea first announced in April 2007 – the GM Daewoo Veritas, a version of Holden’s domestic market long wheelbase luxury flagship Caprice tailored for the new market.
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Holden builds the Veritas at its assembly plant in Elizabeth, South Australia, and the Global V6 engine at its engine operations plant in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
GM Holden chairman and managing director, Mark Reuss,said GM Daewoo had drawn on Australian expertise and resources for a vehicle tailored to meet the needs of the Korean market.
“GM Holden develops its large cars to be world class and we are seeing that paying dividends with new export programmes like [this] one,” Reuss said.
“Cars we build here in Australia are being exported to every continent except Antarctica for brands including Holden, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Vauxhall and GM Daewoo.
“And with the engine in the Veritas also being built by Holden, it’s fair to say we are exporting the complete package.”
Based on GM’s global rear wheel drive architecture, the Veritas has a 3.6 litre Alloytec V6 and is fitted with a five-speed automatic transmission with fully optimised gear ratio settings, Active Select and Sport Shift.
The vehicle, based on the L4X showcar which made its debut at the 2007 Seoul motor show, is expected by GM Daewoo to redefine the premium image of a large sedan in Korea.
The Veritas will claim segment-leading legroom in the Korean market as well as luxury features including massaging rear seats, electric-adjustable headrests and LCD screen and headset.
GM Daewoo president and CEO, Michael Grimaldi said at the Veritas launch in Korea that the car reflected GM Daewoo’s determination to take Korea’s large sedan segment to an entirely new level.
Korean customers were well known for their high expectations of rear passenger comfort and features.
“Veritas represents the start of a new era for GM Daewoo, as we begin to replace our entire current product line-up with new segment-leading models between now and 2010,” Grimaldi added.
The Veritas is the second export deal for Australian-built vehicles between GM Daewoo and GM Holden. In 2005, GM Holden exported around 2,000 of the previous generation WL Statesman to Korea marketed as the GM Daewoo Statesman.
Holden recently entered Canada with exports of the Pontiac G8 sports sedan, a variant of its domestic Commodore SS.
