Speaking to German newspaper Automobilwoche, Opel strategy chief Thomas Sedran mentioned that the next generation of the subcompact Opel Mokka crossover will be manufactured in Europe. Currently, the first-generation Mokka, along with its Chevrolet cousin — the Trax, is built at GM’s plant in Bupyeong, South Korea for the European market; meanwhile, the North America-market Encore is imported from Korea, and the Canada- and Mexico-market Trax is built in Mexico. This development makes us wonder whether production of the next-gen Buick Encore, the Mokka’s Buick-badged twin, will be relocated to the United States — perhaps joining the Chevy Sonic and Verano at GM’s Orion Township plant in Michigan.
Mr. Sedran also said that decisions on where to produce the next-gen Antara crossover (Chevy Captiva Sport in North America) and Agila subcompact MPV (jointly developed with Suzuki) have not been made, but did mention that Opel needs to make small cars in Europe in order to satisfy unused production capacity (thereby curbing excessive overcapacity) while making the vehicles at a profit.
The news comes on the heels of Mr. Sedran’s remarks about GM’s interest in exporting the Opel Cascada soft-top convertible to China as a Buick.
Comments
Is Mr. Sedran aware that the Chinese have superstitions about topless cars? Send the Cascada to North America instead.
Good news 🙂
The Mokka/Encore is not only produced in Korea, but also in China as Buick Encore. See the Buick China press release datelined Guangzhou 10 October 2012 with the title “Buick Encore Launched in China. First Locally Produced SUV from GM’s Premium Brand.”
It would be interesting to compare the sales figures for the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka in the GME sales region and of the Buick Encore in China, and then draw conclusions about the production location.
(GME = GM Europe, which sales-wise extends eastward to the CIS, the former USSR, i.e up to Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean).
I’d guess the new Agila would be similar to a Chevy Spark.
Interesting, it looks like GM is going to resolve the GME profitability issue by keeping the remaining GME plants at capacity to the overall detriment of GM.
These Mokkas’ will be much more expensive to build and therefore less profitable. So GME is makes more profit while overall GM loses some profit.
Perhaps the China plant will export the Mokka to Asian countries.
It makes sense for GME to build europe wide, some countries such as England & Germany need to pay workers more but not every country so premium products could be built at those with the excellent reputation that goes with it, then more mainstream models could be built elsewhere in Europe with their excellent reputation to build good quality cars. If GME wishes to import further models into Europe from say America, Australlia & China as Vauxhall & Opel that’s fine too because it gives a wider range & ensures factory’s work at full capacity.
The Chevrolet Trax sold in Canada is built in Mexico!
And the Buick Encore comes from South Korea but it is at least German engineerd.
Seen many Mokka’s indicating they are selling well. I wonder if they’d be a market for a full length soft top Mokka similar to Adam Rocks.
Bring the Vauxhall Belmont back 🙂