For the second time so far in calendar year 2024, General Motors paused production of the Chevy Onix at the GM Gravataí plant in Brazil.
The automaker just confirmed to local media that it has temporarily suspended production of the Chevy Onix at the Gravataí plant in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, the main production center for Chevrolet’s subcompact car worldwide, and where only the second generation Onix is manufactured. The measure is the product of two different circumstances that affect normal operations at the facility.
Initially, the production pause of the Chevy Onix in Gravataí was a measure programmed by GM Brazil to make “adjustments in the supply chain between May 2nd and 6th.” However, according to union sources, the plant’s temporary suspension was done specifically to adjust the Onix’s production rate to meet market demand and reduce inventory levels of the vehicle in factory yards.
Although GM had planned to restart production of the Chevy Onix on Tuesday, May 7th, heavy rains as a result of the climate crisis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil have caused major flooding and a regional emergency that prevented the resumption of activities at the Gravataí plant. In fact, the company confirmed to local media that there is no certain date to resume vehicle production and it will continue to evaluate the situation.
Notably, this is the second time that Chevy Onix production has been temporarily halted at the Gravataí plant so far this year. The first production stoppage was for two weeks from February 12th to 25th, when the company decided to grant new collective vacations to employees to make “adjustments to the production program” of the industrial complex.
The Gravataí plant is dedicated exclusively to the manufacture of the second-generation Chevy Onix in its two body styles, hatchback and Onix Plus sedan, which remains the best-selling vehicle in Brazil. In fact, the factory represents the birthplace of the Onix and is the only facility in the entire world where the five-door variant is produced. Production is expected to resume in the coming days, as soon as the heavy rain in the region slows down.
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Comments
“heavy rains as a result of the climate crisis” what climate crisis? That region has always had periods with heavy rain. No need to bring in leftist propaganda.
Why all these markets can have affordable cars and not us in North America!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr… I hate that car manufacturers all think the same way !!! I’ve been satisfied with small cars all my life. They are nimble, practical and so easy to toss around. I’m sure there is a market for small cars and mostly affordable with this bad economy situation!