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http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/gm-bar130e_20050930.htm
GM likely to increase output of retro HHR
September 30, 2005
BY MICHAEL ELLIS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Despite being derided by critics as the "me-too PT Cruiser," the Chevrolet HHR has enjoyed surprising success, General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Thursday. GM likely will have to increase production of the retro-looking vehicle even after nearly doubling volume already, he said.
CHEVY HHR Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $16,990 for the four-door LT model.
EPA mileage ratings: 23 m.p.g. city/30 m.p.g. highway for automatic.
The competition: Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus wagon, Pontiac Vibe GT, Toyota Matrix XRS
Styling inspired by: 1949 Chevy Suburban and Chevy SSR convertible pickup.
Same family as: Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Ion.
Where it's built: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Selling points: Low price, good fuel economy, cool styling, useful interior features.
Trendy feature: Input jack for auxiliary (iPod/MP3) players.
Source: General Motors Corp. Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan contributed to this report.
"HHR is even exceeding my expectations, and my expectations were very high," Lutz told reporters following a media event at GM's Milford proving grounds.
The HHR, whose bulging fenders and large grille evoke images of the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban, has had strong sales success in California, a market dominated by Asian automakers.
U.S. sales of the HHR hit 5,760 in September, only its second month in the market, despite being in short supply.
GM has increased its production goal for the built-in-Mexico wagon to 120,000 a year, and more might be needed, Lutz said. "We'll probably have to go up from there," he said.
Late last year, Lutz had projected annual sales of the HHR in the range of 80,000 to 100,000. GM later scaled back that estimate to 60,000 to 80,000 a year, but since arriving on the market, the HHR has sold better than executives had expected -- just as the Chrysler Group's PT Cruiser did.
GM is quick to point out that the HHR, which gets 23 miles per gallon city/30 m.p.g. highway in EPA fuel economy tests, is bigger than the PT Cruiser but uses less gas. The PT Cruiser GT gets 19 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway.
The initial success of the HHR must be especially gratifying to Lutz.
After many automotive analysts criticized the HHR as arriving too late to market and looking too much like the PT Cruiser, he angrily told reporters at the Los Angeles auto show in January that the HHR will be "sensationally successful."
GM likely to increase output of retro HHR
September 30, 2005
BY MICHAEL ELLIS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Despite being derided by critics as the "me-too PT Cruiser," the Chevrolet HHR has enjoyed surprising success, General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Thursday. GM likely will have to increase production of the retro-looking vehicle even after nearly doubling volume already, he said.
CHEVY HHR Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $16,990 for the four-door LT model.
EPA mileage ratings: 23 m.p.g. city/30 m.p.g. highway for automatic.
The competition: Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus wagon, Pontiac Vibe GT, Toyota Matrix XRS
Styling inspired by: 1949 Chevy Suburban and Chevy SSR convertible pickup.
Same family as: Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Ion.
Where it's built: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Selling points: Low price, good fuel economy, cool styling, useful interior features.
Trendy feature: Input jack for auxiliary (iPod/MP3) players.
Source: General Motors Corp. Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan contributed to this report.
"HHR is even exceeding my expectations, and my expectations were very high," Lutz told reporters following a media event at GM's Milford proving grounds.
The HHR, whose bulging fenders and large grille evoke images of the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban, has had strong sales success in California, a market dominated by Asian automakers.
U.S. sales of the HHR hit 5,760 in September, only its second month in the market, despite being in short supply.
GM has increased its production goal for the built-in-Mexico wagon to 120,000 a year, and more might be needed, Lutz said. "We'll probably have to go up from there," he said.
Late last year, Lutz had projected annual sales of the HHR in the range of 80,000 to 100,000. GM later scaled back that estimate to 60,000 to 80,000 a year, but since arriving on the market, the HHR has sold better than executives had expected -- just as the Chrysler Group's PT Cruiser did.
GM is quick to point out that the HHR, which gets 23 miles per gallon city/30 m.p.g. highway in EPA fuel economy tests, is bigger than the PT Cruiser but uses less gas. The PT Cruiser GT gets 19 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway.
The initial success of the HHR must be especially gratifying to Lutz.
After many automotive analysts criticized the HHR as arriving too late to market and looking too much like the PT Cruiser, he angrily told reporters at the Los Angeles auto show in January that the HHR will be "sensationally successful."
