General Motors is reportedly preparing to hold back production of its Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano cars.
The move is viewed as a potential sign of trouble for the small-car segment, as gasoline prices continue to average around $2 per gallon across the US — encouraging some buyers to opt for larger cars, crossovers and SUVs with lower mpg ratings.
The move is viewed as a potential sign of trouble for the small-car segment, as gasoline prices continue to average around $2 per gallon across the US — encouraging some buyers to opt for larger cars, crossovers and SUVs with lower mpg ratings.
GM has not made any official comments regarding production cuts, but Automotive News reports that the company’s Orion Assembly plant in Detroit will suspend operations for three weeks beginning mid-February.
December sales showed a slight uptick in Verano sales and a 23-percent jump in Sonic shipments, despite lower fuel prices at the time. The Sonic finished up nine percent for 2014 overall, while the Verano was the only Buick model in the red at the end of the year.
Notably, Chevy’s diminutive Spark appears to have bucked the trend with December sales surging by nearly 76 percent and 2014 total shipments up more than 14 percent.
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