why GM stop making chevy caprice and impala back in 96 and come up with a funny style impala in 2000 and 2006?
2007-03-15 05:39:40 · 11 answers · asked by widner a 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Chevrolet
They claimed that the sales were off on large RWD barges, so they started making FWD low performance sedans. The cops quit buying from GM and stuck with the Ford LTD's (barges)
Now, more than 10 years later, they are starting to offer some V8 Impalas again, so maybe I will consider one if they prove to be reliable.
I don't think they will ever regain the market share they enjoyed in the 60's and 70's. Too much quality competition from Japan.
2007-03-15 15:08:42 · answer #1 · answered by Trump 2020 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My company was DUMB!!! Production was suppose to stop on the caprice, Fleetwood,and Buick roadmaster in Feb 1996. But the police depts, limo makers who converted the Fleetwoods to hearses and limos as well as the public wanted them. So production was extended to Oct of 1996 . The cops knew that the Chevy had more get up and go than a Crown Vic. Companies and cab drivers loved them for fleet cars . GM decided that they could produce more trucks at the Arlington Texas assembly plant rather than convert or build a new assembly plant so they did away with the last remaining rear wheel drive full size vehicles cause it seemed the American public wanted more pick-up trucks. They lost a lot of market share doing this and handed it to Ford
2007-03-15 23:45:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's got everything to do with bringing the average fuel consumption of their vehicles up to the government enforced standards. Every car or truck that GM sells counts towards an average mpg to the company and every mpg over the standard that is imposed on them costs them a "fine" of sorts. These particular cars were very popular but absolute gas guzzlers as they had more power and weight than needed so it was a fairly easy decision.
2007-03-15 14:29:20 · answer #3 · answered by Deano 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GM had problems getting to cars to sell. GM wanted to redesign some models to compete with class leaders.
2007-03-15 12:53:16 · answer #4 · answered by david d 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They stopped making all rear wheel drive cars except the Corvette. Front wheel drive is more fuel efficient so it was probably to meet new EPA requirements.
2007-03-15 13:27:30 · answer #5 · answered by txturbo2001 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That asssembly plant was converted over to make SUV`S which were in geater demand in 96.
2007-03-15 13:14:24 · answer #6 · answered by deltech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GM lost it's edge and had to copy the foreign car-makers models to compete in what most people were buying.
2007-03-15 20:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by tichur 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
put intrests in other projects and to work on stile ideas for impala down sizing it for more up to date features.
2007-03-19 11:10:59 · answer #8 · answered by bubba23111 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rear wheel drive plants were converted to pickups and suv's , higher demand and far better profit margins for them
2007-03-15 14:22:13 · answer #9 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They didn't sell obviously.
2007-03-15 12:41:53 · answer #10 · answered by kdog 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋