Corvette leaving European market
06-24-2019, 03:49 PM
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Corvette leaving European market
Regarding this article as I did not see another discussion thread. I found this topic interesting and I was wondering what caused the (likely poor selling) Chevy sports cars to be withdrawn from Europe. In my research I stumbled upon the following resource: https://wltpfacts.eu/when-will-wltp-changes-take-place/. This site discusses a new testing emissions procedure. New cars were required to be tested by September 2018, however it appears that some cars weren't updated in anyway were allowed to be sold until September 2019, I.E. last sales day of August 31st 2019.
Other articles indicate that manufacturers have had trouble passing the test, so my hypothesis is that Chevrolet either attempted and failed the test for 6.2 L equipped cars or did not even attempt to pass and instead withdrew the car from the market. This is not tax or tariff related, just emissions. This wouldn't be the first time an automaker fully or partially withdrew from a country for emissions reasons, though historically it has been the other way around (the Alfa Spider in the US in the 1968 for one example).
Other articles indicate that manufacturers have had trouble passing the test, so my hypothesis is that Chevrolet either attempted and failed the test for 6.2 L equipped cars or did not even attempt to pass and instead withdrew the car from the market. This is not tax or tariff related, just emissions. This wouldn't be the first time an automaker fully or partially withdrew from a country for emissions reasons, though historically it has been the other way around (the Alfa Spider in the US in the 1968 for one example).
Last edited by ValourUnbound; 06-24-2019 at 03:49 PM.
06-24-2019, 03:56 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Given the C7 is being discontinued with the LT1 there wasn't any point in testing.
The following users liked this post:
Avanti (06-24-2019)
06-24-2019, 06:11 PM
#3
Safety Car
Unlike many other manufacturers GM never have a right hand Corvette for the European market
06-24-2019, 06:15 PM
#4
Moderator
Probably wasn't much volume to be concerned about as compared to US + Canada.
06-24-2019, 10:06 PM
#5
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Bonneville Salt Flats, 223mph Aug. '04
Posts: 17,423
Received 5,215 Likes
on
3,458 Posts
If US dealers cannot predictably correct glitches, I see no reason for European dealers to bother trying, and as noted the C7 is essentially past-tense.
06-24-2019, 10:08 PM
#6
Safety Car
06-24-2019, 10:20 PM
#7
Another reason to be American 