Domestics Abroad: Part II - Chevrolet's Foreign Fare
Today we feature the second entry to our Domestics Abroad series. Here’s where we take a look at the international models proffered around the world that wear a domestic company’s badge on the grille, but are not offered in their brands’ domestic markets. This is ground zero for “you can’t get that here.” All nameplates you’ll see in this series are current production models.
We kicked off this series with Ford, and its 13 qualifying models. Our second entry is Chevrolet, which also places second in number of models.
Here are Chevrolet’s nine entries, in alphabetical order:
CMV
What’s presently called the Chevrolet CMV was formerly the Suzuki Carry. It’s a Japanese Kei utility van and truck nameplate with quite a varied history.
Originally the idea of Suzuki all the way back in 1961, the general principles of small and utilitarian have stayed in place. This little carryall has worn a Ford badge, a Maruti logo in India, Bedford in the United Kingdom, along with Holden, Mitsubishi, Autozam, Vauxhall, Nissan, and now Chevrolet. Production was handed over to Daewoo in 1992, and since 2011 it has been produced by GM Korea.
Montana
Well, look at this here. A little compact pickup truck, and one that’s front-wheel-drive based. The Montana (not the Pontiac van), which has been around since 2003, is based on the Opel Corsa hatchback. The nearest market that receives the Montana is Mexico, where it’s called the Tornado. There’s a diesel engine option, and it’s a 1.3-liter Fiat Multijet. How about that?
Niva
You probably know about the Lada Niva, the old Russian utility vehicle which was once sold in the United States of Canada but not in The America. Since 1998, GM and AvtoVAZ (parent of Lada) have worked together on successively more modern versions of the Niva. Produced in Russia, the Niva gets a new generation for 2018 with a reworked, crossover-style shape. The above photo is from the concept’s debut, but is rumored to be identical to the production version.
Optra
For the Egyptian and Algerian markets only, Chevrolet takes a GM-Wuling Baojun 630 from the Chinese market, and swaps some badges and lights. The results speak for themselves.
Orlando
This one’s interesting — a compact CUV which Canada received but America did not. Produced by GM Korea since 2011, the Orlando is built on the same Delta II platform as the first-generation Cruze and Cadillac ELR. The Orlando was discontinued in the Canadian market after 2014, but is still sold elsewhere. I’m getting Kia Borrego chills from this photo.
Prisma
On sale in the South American market, the Prisma is assembled in Brazil. The hatchback version receives the Onix name, and either version can be equipped with 1.0- or 1.4-liter gasoline engines. It doesn’t seem like we’re missing much with this one.
Sail
The second Chinese vehicle on our list, the Sail, is in its third generation. Successful in its home market and abroad, the Sail is exported widely across Asia and South America. This vehicle is also an interesting example of car model consolidation over time. In 2001, the Sail began with sedan, hatchback, wagon, and van utility options, and production took place in four different countries. The current generation is produced only as a sedan, and only in China.
Spin
A mini MPV, the Spin has not been a great sales success. Originally produced in Indonesia and Brazil, slow sales caused GM to shut down Indonesian production after not quite two and a half years. This vehicle is built on the same Gamma platform as the Sonic and Trax.
Tavera
Definitely the oldest vehicle on this list, the Chevrolet Tavera started out in life as an Isuzu all the way back in 1991. Isuzu produced the Tavera in Indonesia until 2007, when Chevrolet took over and moved production to India. It’s known as an MUV, a multi-purpose utility vehicle. Rolls right off the tongue, eh?
Tune in soon for Part III of Domestics Abroad, The Unmentionables.
[Images: Wikipedia; General Motors]
Interested in lots of cars and their various historical contexts. Started writing articles for TTAC in late 2016, when my first posts were QOTDs. From there I started a few new series like Rare Rides, Buy/Drive/Burn, Abandoned History, and most recently Rare Rides Icons. Operating from a home base in Cincinnati, Ohio, a relative auto journalist dead zone. Many of my articles are prompted by something I'll see on social media that sparks my interest and causes me to research. Finding articles and information from the early days of the internet and beyond that covers the little details lost to time: trim packages, color and wheel choices, interior fabrics. Beyond those, I'm fascinated by automotive industry experiments, both failures and successes. Lately I've taken an interest in AI, and generating "what if" type images for car models long dead. Reincarnating a modern Toyota Paseo, Lincoln Mark IX, or Isuzu Trooper through a text prompt is fun. Fun to post them on Twitter too, and watch people overreact. To that end, the social media I use most is Twitter, @CoreyLewis86. I also contribute pieces for Forbes Wheels and Forbes Home.
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The Montana/Tornado, especially as an extended (but not crew) cab is exactly what I'm looking for as a small truck--especially in an AWD version.
I always try to figure out why a vehicle that we can't have usually adds up to a not inconsiderable amount of online excitement. Is it that familiarity breeds contempt or an anti-american bias? Both? Recently my friend was sending pictures of RHD Skylines because they've finally been authorized to be imported. My only thought was bored bemusement. If I were to act all excited it would only ne because that's the expected response. I don't kniw what makes them so special over the things we can have. I enjoy looking at cars, reading about cars, figuring out what makes them work, but I just can't understand the draw of foreign only vehicles.