The General confirms North American micro car still a ways off

With automakers looking down the double barrels of high fuel prices and a constricted global economy, many are considering whether small vehicles previously reserved for Europe could also be marketed in North America.

Sales successes like the Mini Cooper, or Smart ForTwo have shown that a premium small car with an emphasis on fuel mileage and cool styling can be popular.

But not General Motors.

GM COO Fritz Henderson recently told Automotive News a North American micro car (such as its Chevrolet Beat, above) is not in the cards for now.

In a bad case of rationalization, Henderson thinks small-car buyers will be more than happy with compact cars the size of the Chevrolet Cobalt or subcompacts such as the Chevy Aveo.

So while bringing the Beat to our shores seems like a no-brainer, in reality, GM didn’t have the foresight to engineer the Beat to meet North American safety or crash standards.

We’ll have to wait until at least the next generation Beat, if ever.

Would you buy a Chevrolet Beat?

Or is GM right in thinking its just too small?

[Source: Automotive News]

Comments

[Randy]

Would you buy a Chevrolet Beat? Yes

Or is GM right in thinking its just too small? No.
Idiots. This is the way of the future. Premium small cars. If I want a second vehicle for the family, the Mini and Smart are a lot more appealing than GM's current offerings with the exception of the Saturn Astra.

Cheers,

[T.C. Gore]

With GM making decisions like this, and Ford not bringing the 65mpg Fiesta to the States "for business reasons", no wonder they have become owners of parking lots of SUV's. I'm 61, and remember when GM, Ford, and Chrysler tried to counter the Beetle with the Corvair, Falcon, and Lancer, and failed miserably. They still don't get it...people will buy very small cars IF they see quality construction and cost/benefit value. I am seriously considering the Smart Fortwo as my next new car purchase.