From The Drive · Joel Feder · · 50s
Camaro on Hiatus
GM says Camaro's market for return is uncertain after Ford proves Mustang has demand.
In brief
GM says Camaro's market for return is uncertain after Ford proves Mustang has demand. GM states Camaro is on hiatus due to business sense, not dead, as Ford shows Mustang has market. Originally reported by The Drive.
Camaro's status
GM says Camaro is on hiatus for now, not dead, after 2023 exit.
“I read all the same things you read or talk about about what people think is coming, but yeah, Camaro is a storied nameplate that we make when it makes sense, and it’s taken a couple of hiatuses here and it’s currently on one.”
Business reason
Roma says Camaro doesn't make business sense to continue with last gen.
“I can tell you it just didn’t make good business sense to keep going with where we were with the last gen, and I’ve got nothing to comment.”
Future return
Roma says Camaro could return if opportunity is right, but no current plans.
“it’s a situation where, again, it’s a storied nameplate, and so we have these in our past that if the opportunity is right at the right time, we would bring one back, but there’s nothing to talk about today, unfortunately.”
Market comparison
Ford proves Mustang has market, but Camaro needs business case to return.
“I think Ford proves there’s still a market for a car called the Mustang, and I think Dodge has been talking about what they’re doing, so I don’t know, you’d have to fill in the blanks there, there’s a lot of blanks to fill in.”
Resource challenge
Camaro requires large upfront cost to compete with other projects.
“The part that nobody wants to think about is the very, very large check that has a lot of zeros on it that has to go upfront, and that has to compete with resources against every other project in the building, right?”
Platform sharing
Next-gen CT5 on Alpha platform could support Camaro with cost sharing.
“The Alpha platform the last Camaro rode on was shared with the Cadillac AT4 and CT5.”
What next
Camaro return depends on business case and board approval.
“And again, I know these are not the answers that car people want to hear sometimes, but it’s the truth, and so when the time is right, if the time becomes right, we’ll do something.”
The headline
GM states Camaro is on hiatus due to business sense, not dead, as Ford shows Mustang has market.
