The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer made a surprise online debut on Wednesday following the announcement of its corporate cousin, the 2020 Buick Encore GX. Both, the reborn Trailblazer as well as the Encore GX will be produced in South Korea.
The country of origin isn’t much of a surprise for two main reasons: GM Korea has produced the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore for years for the U.S. market. Both models will continue being built in South Korea and exported to North America, since the Trailblazer and Encore GX are new entries to the lineup, rather than direct replacements for the Trax and Encore. General Motors promised two new vehicles for the South Korean unit to manufacture as part of a bailout and restructuring plan, with the Trailblazer and Encore GX being those vehicles.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer cabin
The South Korean auto union agreed to wage freezes and benefit cuts to keep costs in check last year. The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer and 2020 Buick Encore GX were the carrots in the deal. The promise of two new cars for local production likely also helped swallow the end of production at the GM Gunsan assembly plant, which GM has shuttered. GM Korea received, in total, a $7 billion bailout in the restructuring deal. The reorg was necessary following GM’s exit from Europe, which deeply impacted the automaker’s South Korean production.
While the reasoning behind Trailblazer and Encore GX production in South Korea are clear, both vehicles seem like ideal candidates for production at the GM Lordstown plant in Ohio. GM idled the plant this past March where the Chevrolet Cruze sedan was made specifically for the U.S. market. Canadian and Mexican-spec Cruze sedans were assembled in Mexico. The Cruze hatchback was also made in Mexico.
2020 Buick Encore GX
Infamously, GM shed the second shift at the Lordstown plant the same day it announced the new mid-size Chevrolet Blazer would be built in Mexico.
Production of the 2021 Trailblazer will start this year in South Korea for local sales. In early 2020, GM Korea plants will begin exporting the model to the U.S.
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Comments
You stated early 2021 it should be early 2020.
Dont buy it.
Why?
For the same reason I will not buy a Hyundai or Kia.
Deepriver, the same reason the Blazer is not well received, its not made in USA. GM continue to deliver new SUV/CUVS to the US market, but are not build right here, that in my opinion is wrong, when your company closed US factories, and left hundreds unemployed.
Toyota profits from those built in the US, go back to Japan.
GM profits from overseas come back to the US.
In HIs case does it really matter? It seems GM is using US profits to build product that could have been built here in Mexico, China, and Korea instead.
Please show me data that proves US dollars are used.
In this case, it does matter. If you buy any GM product, you are improving the bottom line.
Also, GM sold more vehicle in China than it did in the US first quarter2019. Those profits came back to the US. Perhaps invested in Mexico, Brazil, or even the US. So it is shared money. I am a GM loyal. Sorry, had a Ford in ’68.
This is an honorable statement but the fact is in a global market the cost of production in the USA. Can’t compete in a capitalistic arena where profit and shareholder interest set precedent over employee well-being or National pride.
We chose to let the automotive industry move when we stopped making steel and tires etc. So when America embraced Honda, Toyota, Nissan as its choice for value and quality for the dollar our US automotive companies from the 70- late 90’s put out inferior & unreliable crap. So a two fold problem….Companies stuck in “Greed” mode….and Americans unwillingness to pay more for inferior products. So even though the gap has closed…maybe too little too late get consumers to change their perception that “Made in America” isn’t just a mantra not held in reality but in Hubris? But History doesn’t sell cars. Good product with value do!
So crying foul for their contributions in not designing and reducing industry leading products is all on GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Even Today they build for the money both GM and Ford only gonna build Trucks and SUV’s except the Mustang & Camaro and Corvette saying America wants these.
But bottom line is these models make more money per unit especially trucks. So screw Alt fuel vehicles or Small cars development which use less fuel or no fossil fuels and just screw our children’s future. Let’s just keep doing the same stuff different day as if Gasoline prices will stay subsidized forever. While forward thinking folks like Elon Musk has built a viable selling sedan that’s all electric at a reasonably price point. One of the 3rd most sold autos next to Toyota’s Camry’s and corolla.
So build better cars and folks would buy them and innovate instead of following with mediocre “Me Too” products.??
Built out of USA, I’ll pass. I’d rather see Americans building my Chevy SUV.
The first thing I do when I look at a new vehicle from an American manufacturer is open the drivers door to see where it was built. I buy American built vehicles to keep my neighbors employed for a stronger economy (Just my narrow opinion). It has kept me from purchasing my favorite hot rod, Challenger HellCat, because I do not consider Canadian built cars to be “Domestic” as FCA likes to advertise.
Should have built these at Lordstown since Korea is keeping Trax Encore.
Totally agree ! This could be built at Lordstown Ohio …in the replacement of the Cruze production
BOY__ GM Mary and her inconsiderate cronies are putting foreign workers to work and laying off AMERICANS . this does not make any sense –now these laid off AMERICAN workers can’t afford too buy a new car so AMERICAN sales are in a decline . I guess sitting in their big offices with their over inflated egos and salaries they can’t figure that out because their brains are where the sun does not shine . They are ruining the respect of this company and they all need pink slips . Come on read these comments and listen to what your consumers are saying .
Your much too harsh. Despite the fact GM is importing tens of thousands more vehicles from Korea, just today Barra announced a whopping $24 million investment at Fort Wayne to increase production by dozens a week! Rumor has it Barra is going to be at another GM plant next week announcing an investment of hundreds for new microwaves in the cafeteria.
Like GM really ! Just build this cuv in Ohio that would be a smart choice , retool & build since y’all killed the good Cruze , wouldn’t mind buying this but it’s being build on the home land which you all left high & dry in Ohio.
Wondering how much Korea contributed to GM during bailout? Probably as much as Mexico did
^South Korea just bailed out GM Korea to the tune of 7 billion.
Forgive me, but I wish I could go around the world collecting bailouts as this disgrace of an automaker has done.
OTOH you expect worldwide sales and no factories outside of the US?. Not even the “good ol days” that happened as GM had factories in S.A., Mexico, Europe, even Siberia. It’s the same for Ford.
Another one GM?? Soon, you won’t be able to buy any Chevy made in America 🙁
As soon as I see made in USA one will be in my driveway. I still have my rusty baby a 2002 trailblazer that I have loved all these years. Living in Michigan she has gotten my family and I out of many snow drifts… love my 4 wheel drive! She’s seen better days but still running. Would love a new one but …..
If not build in Canada or the USA I will not buy it any more GM products.m