General Motors South Africa’s (GMSA) Struandale plant in Port Elizabeth this week assembled its first Chevrolet Spark, the first time in 31 years that a Chevrolet passenger vehicle has been built there.
The Spark assembly programme is part of a R1bn (US$12.9m) investment in three new product programmes of which the third generation Chevrolet Utility came on stream late last year. The model, known as a ‘bakkie’ locally, is based on a previous generation Opel Corsa platform. The sixth generation Isuzu KB pickup, currently being introduced to other markets as both an Isuzu and a Chevrolet, goes into South African production in the first half of 2013.
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Mike Pearton, GMSA vice president of manufacturing, said a brand new multi-million rand body shop had been installed for the Spark. “This modern new facility is packed with the latest technology,” he said.
The new entry level car was previously imported built-up from GM Korea. A GMSA spokeswoman confirmed to just-auto the assembly kits for local production were also coming from Korea but that there is significant local content.
“We see Spark as an important player in the rapidly growing Chevrolet product portfolio in South Africa. Chevrolet’s volumes grew by 50.3% in 2011 versus 2010,” Pearton said.
The Spark was the top performing passenger vehicle in the South African 2011 Synovate Product Quality Awards.
“With just 17 faults per 100 vehicles, the standard measure in vehicle quality surveys, the Spark featured ahead of even top end luxury vehicles available to South African buyers – a superb performance,” said Pearton.
He added that quality of locally manufactured products is a key focus area. “Every year our products are awarded for their quality achievements and we continue to strive to maintain and exceed these levels.”
GM’s Spark is a popular entry level car workdwide and is also built in Changwon, South Korea; Talegaon, Maharashtra, India; Asaka, Andijan, Uzbekistan; Struandale, Port Elizabeth (South Africa); and in China, according to just-auto’s Production Life Database.
