Lutz confirms it: Chevrolet Beat will not come to the U.S.

Continuing the whole on and off again subject for the Chevrolet Beat for the U.S., Lutz confirmed yesterday that the subcompact Chevy won’t be coming to the stateside. Speaking to the press yesterday on a conference call, GM’s vice chairman said that the Chevrolet Beat, that goes on sale in Europe next year, won’t be coming to the states mainly due to the fact that it doesn’t meet federal safety and crash regulations.

Lutz said that it would cost GM way too much money to make the move right now. However, he said it may come to the U.S. when the...
Read Article

mlevere1992 - 7/16/2008 12:58:09 PM

+4 Boost

Another reason that GM is going in the toilet. Why wasn't this designed for the US in the first place? Why was it even shown in any of the US auto shows if they were never going to produce it for the US? They need better designed compact cars for the US at this time and they are saying 'Sorry'. People here are shouting for good, small, efficient cars and we can't find any and now Chevy is going to be 2 - 3 years behind.

09CTSVforMe - 7/16/2008 12:58:45 PM

+3 Boost

I wonder what the auto-accident death rate is in Europe vs. the US? Why is it so much more difficult to meet US standards?

I'd guess it's probably a tort issue.

09CTSVforMe - 7/16/2008 2:39:50 PM

0 Boost

I might have thought that a year ago, but based on how many Americans I see on 49cc Scooters lately...times they are a-changin'.

0to60 - 7/16/2008 1:56:32 PM

+2 Boost

Sad. It looks like a sleek, cool little car.

mpwr - 7/16/2008 2:22:12 PM

0 Boost

mistake, in so many ways

Whelan - 7/16/2008 2:43:52 PM

+1 Boost

I'm very curious to see what makes our standards so much different than Europe. I know they all have to comply with the new European pedestrian crash standards on their bumpers and such. Or is it just that the US is being overly concerned with certain safety features.

The Government wants these ridiculously safe cars, as do we all. But then they mandate things like 35mpg to come on all cars in the not so far future. Well safety adds weight, so until they greenlight cheaper, lighter building materials for cars that are stronger, like the aluminum and carbon fiber, changes are going to be tough to make. They are pulling the industry in two different directions here.

Rupert - 7/16/2008 8:57:50 PM

+3 Boost

American regulations have always been different - a lot of it is to do with airbags (In Europe they are supplementary systems to seatbelts, and only fire at crashes above certain speeds whereas in the US they are primary systems and fire at very low speeds) and bumpers (US ones are a lot bigger).

eric452 - 7/16/2008 8:44:13 PM

0 Boost

this would of sold like hotcakes in the US

"but we all know that GM is making difficult decision's to survive" sarcastic voice

aussiemonster - 7/17/2008 12:29:02 AM

+2 Boost

It's simple, dumb americans have the constitutional right not to wear seatbelts. This adds cost & complexity to vehicles sold in the US as the airbags & the rest of the interior of the vehicle has to do the job of the seatbelt. Wear your seatbelts, change the laws & then you can have all the great cars to choose from that the rest of the world gets.