j894
10-12-05, 08:30 PM
http://www.wheelspress.com/gifs/wpnews/rr/HHR2.jpg
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Chevy HHR is hot, so GM raises target again, looks at boosting production
JAMIE LAREAU | Automotive News
Posted Date: 10/10/05
DETROIT -- General Motors believes it has a hit with the new Chevrolet
HHR wagon but must figure out how to build more of them.
"What we're trying to do is ramp up the capacity of the components and the
plant so that we can build without having to go build another plant for it,"
says Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars.
Robert Lutz, GM's vice chairman for product development, says GM plans to
produce 120,000 HHRs annually. Production will "probably go up from there,
" Lutz adds.
Initially, Chevrolet expected to sell 80,000 to 100,000 units annually. In June,
GM revised that goal to about 60,000 a year, said Jim Campbell, director of
Chevrolet car marketing. Last month, Queen insisted the plan always was to
build 100,000 HHRs annually.
Queen says GM is running maximum overtime to build the vehicles at its Ramos
Arizpe, Mexico, plant.
She shies away from Lutz's 120,000 annual production target. "I'm hoping we
can, but I don't know," Queen says. "I'm trying to understand if I can get to
that level." Queen says she must determine whether components and plant
capacity are available.
Last month, Chevrolet sold 8,602 HHRs. Sales of the wagon outpaced those of
the Scion xB (4,459) and Honda Element (4,988). Chrysler sold 11,742 PT
Cruisers last month."
-autoweek.com (http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103332)
"
Chevy HHR is hot, so GM raises target again, looks at boosting production
JAMIE LAREAU | Automotive News
Posted Date: 10/10/05
DETROIT -- General Motors believes it has a hit with the new Chevrolet
HHR wagon but must figure out how to build more of them.
"What we're trying to do is ramp up the capacity of the components and the
plant so that we can build without having to go build another plant for it,"
says Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars.
Robert Lutz, GM's vice chairman for product development, says GM plans to
produce 120,000 HHRs annually. Production will "probably go up from there,
" Lutz adds.
Initially, Chevrolet expected to sell 80,000 to 100,000 units annually. In June,
GM revised that goal to about 60,000 a year, said Jim Campbell, director of
Chevrolet car marketing. Last month, Queen insisted the plan always was to
build 100,000 HHRs annually.
Queen says GM is running maximum overtime to build the vehicles at its Ramos
Arizpe, Mexico, plant.
She shies away from Lutz's 120,000 annual production target. "I'm hoping we
can, but I don't know," Queen says. "I'm trying to understand if I can get to
that level." Queen says she must determine whether components and plant
capacity are available.
Last month, Chevrolet sold 8,602 HHRs. Sales of the wagon outpaced those of
the Scion xB (4,459) and Honda Element (4,988). Chrysler sold 11,742 PT
Cruisers last month."
-autoweek.com (http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103332)