All too often it seems like the Big Three deliberately ignore their home market only to offer a fantastic model lineup overseas. General Motors’ upcoming Chevrolet Cruze four-door sedan is one vehicle that will be available both here and abroad, but the Detroit automaker will likely keep any body styling variants exclusive to foreign markets.
Hans Demant, vice president of engineering for General Motors Europe, revealed to Automotive News that GM was considering offering the Cruze as a hatchback and station wagon, in addition to the Cruze’s standard four-door sedan body style.
“And as soon as you have a tool set, you have variation which you can create basically at no cost,” Demant told Automotive News. “You have a customer advantage if you make a little modification while you’re doing that.”
Hatchback and wagons are far more popular in Europe than they are here in the U.S., but the segment is gaining traction as buyers move away from larger vehicles into more fuel efficient models. And, just because the additional models won’t initially be offered in the U.S., that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually come to the U.S. As Demant says, once tolling is in place, it’s very easy to create new variations. But with the Cruze sedan already delayed for the U.S., GM could once again decide to skip over the U.S. with European models.
