GM Daewoo
Encyclopedia
GM Korea Company is South Korea's
second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group
, in 2001. It has five manufacturing facilities in South Korea
as well as a vehicle assembly facility in Vietnam
. In addition, GM Korea provides region and brand-specific vehicle assembly kits for assembly by GM affiliates in China
, the United States
, Australia
, Germany
, India
, and Brazil
. In 2008, GM Korea built more than 1.9 million vehicles, including CKD products. GM Korea now produces vehicles and kits for Chevrolet
, Opel
and Buick
that are offered in more than 150 markets on six continents. On January 20, 2011, General Motors announced that GM Daewoo would be renamed GM Korea "to reflect [Daewoo's] heightened status in [the] global operations of GM," effective March 2011. Most of the former Daewoo products were rechristened as Chevrolet
s, with plans for GM to establish either the Cadillac
or Buick
brands there.
Korean Development Bank (KDB), the company's creditor, took over management in 1976 as the company found itself unable to cope with competition from Hyundai and Kia
. After the Daewoo Group gained control in 1982, the name was changed once more to Daewoo Motor. In the early 1990s the company started to expand heavily throughout the world. Until 1996 all Daewoo cars were based on GM-designed models. After the Asian financial crisis reached South Korea in 1997, Daewoo took over the troubled SUV manufacturer SsangYong in 1998, but ran into financial trouble and was forced to sell the company off in 2001 to GM affiliate SAIC.
and SAIC holding a stake of 66.7% with investments of US$400 million. The GM holding was formally purchased by GM Holden Ltd which holds a seat on the board and is legally responsible for GM Daewoo. The remaining equity stake of 33.3% was held by Korea Development Bank and several other Korean creditors with investments of US$197 million. The deal did not include 15 plants, including Daewoo's oldest plant in Bupyeong-gu which is now operated under the name Incheon Motor Company as a supplier to GM Daewoo. In 2004, Tata Motors
purchased Daewoo Truck
from GM. In February 2005, GM invested US$49 million to raise its share in the company to 48.2%. In 2010, General Motors
owned 82.9%, SAIC 9.9 %, and the Daewoo Motor Creditors Committee the remaining 7.2%.
GM Korea has design, engineering, research & development facilities that are involved in development for various GM products, above all small-size cars. On November 25, 2003, the design center was relocated to the new 2-story building at the Bupyeong-gu headquarters. The first car to be produced under the GM Daewoo nameplate was the 2002 GM Daewoo Lacetti
, replacing the Nubira
. This car was developed in South Korea under the Daewoo Motor era, but it gradually became a GM world car
, sold under many different marques all around the globe. After a few years without any new cars to present, in 2005, GM Daewoo introduced the Holden
based Statesman luxury car replacing the discontinued Daewoo Chairman. The third generation of Matiz
was introduced, refreshed by the GM Daewoo design team, and an evolution of the 4-door Kalos
appeared: the Gentra.
In early 2006, GM Daewoo presented Tosca
, the replacement of the Magnus
. GM Daewoo's official press releases says that Tosca is an acronym for "Tomorrow Standard Car". The end of the same year, GM Daewoo introduced the Winstorm
- its first proper SUV, which was, as the Lacetti, sold worldwide under different marques and names including Opel
, Chevrolet
, GMC
and Holden
, and previously Saturn
before the demise of that brand in 2010. It featured a common rail
Diesel engine
for the first time in a Daewoo vehicle, in addition to regular four and six cylinder gasoline engines. The diesel engine design is licensed from the Italian engine maker VM Motori
.
2007 has seen the introduction of the wagon
version of the Lacetti and Kalos hatchback's facelift, becoming Gentra X. For 2008, GM Daewoo introduced the first Korean-made roadster: the G2X
sports car, a badge-engineered Saturn Sky
, and started to sell the Opel Antara
under the name of Winstorm MaXX
. The Statesman flagship was also replaced by the new Veritas which is now based on the Holden Caprice V.
Late 2008 and early 2009 were a major period for GM Daewoo with the introduction of the all-new Lacetti Premiere
, which is based on the Chevrolet Cruze
, a very important compact car for GM divisions worldwide. The the newly rechristened third generation of the Matiz was added to the range in 2009 as the Chevrolet Spark.
As of the end of 2011, GM Korea also manufactures the Chevrolet models Malibu
and Orlando
, as well as the new standalone brand Alpheon.
In Europe, Daewoo Motor started selling the Espero
and Cielo-based Nexia in early 1995. The range was then completed by the Lanos
, Nubira
and Leganza
. The Matiz
mini car was released in 1998, and was a great success for the company, most notably in non-Asian countries such as Italy
where it won many awards such as the “Car of the Year” award three times in a row, in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The Rezzo (Tacuma), Evanda
(Magnus) and Kalos
models were then released, before the SsangYong-based SUVs : Korando
, Musso
and Rexton
. After GM’s buyout, the Daewoo models got a new badge, and were sold under the Daewoo name until 2003: the Nubira III
(Lacetti) was the last car to wear a Daewoo badge in Europe. (The former Daewoo models were later rechristened as Chevrolets.)
Daewoo cars were also available in the US & Canada (1997–2002), Australia and many other countries, until Daewoo’s bankruptcy and GM’s buyout. Since Daewoo's withdrawal from many markets, the Lanos was moved to Chevrolet
as the Aveo, whereas the Nubira and Leganza were given replacements for either the Chevrolet
or Suzuki
brands.
January 1, 2005 saw the introduction of the Chevrolet brand in Europe, the whole Daewoo range being simply badge-engineered as Chevrolets. GM’s official tagline was that
The Winstorm
and Tosca
were presented as Chevrolet Captiva and Chevrolet Epica. Some GM Daewoo cars changed names when rebadged; examples are the Matiz which became Chevrolet Spark in some markets (although Chevrolet Matiz was also), or the Kalos which became Aveo (alongside Chevrolet Kalos in other countries). Today, the tendency goes towards a uniformisation in the Chevrolet Europe range: the Spark and Cruze will bear these names throughout all European markets.
Vietnam
and Opel's OPC
, this company modified GM Daewoo models in South Korea and marketed them under the DPA brandname.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group
Daewoo
Daewoo or the Daewoo Group was a major South Korean chaebol . It was founded on 22 March 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999...
, in 2001. It has five manufacturing facilities in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as well as a vehicle assembly facility in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. In addition, GM Korea provides region and brand-specific vehicle assembly kits for assembly by GM affiliates in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In 2008, GM Korea built more than 1.9 million vehicles, including CKD products. GM Korea now produces vehicles and kits for Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
and Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
that are offered in more than 150 markets on six continents. On January 20, 2011, General Motors announced that GM Daewoo would be renamed GM Korea "to reflect [Daewoo's] heightened status in [the] global operations of GM," effective March 2011. Most of the former Daewoo products were rechristened as Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
s, with plans for GM to establish either the Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
or Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
brands there.
History
GM Korea's roots go back to the remnants of the Korean War and Shinjin Motor, which launched its business by rebuilding scrapped US military vehicles. Shinjin Motor was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea. After changing its name to Saenara Motor in 1962, Saenara Motor was bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to Shinjin Motor after establishing a partnership with Toyota. After Toyota's withdrawal in 1972, Shinjin Motor changed its name to GM Korea (GMK) in 1972 with General Motors purchasing a 50% stake in the company from Toyota in 1972; however GMK was renamed again in 1976 to Saehan Motor.Korean Development Bank (KDB), the company's creditor, took over management in 1976 as the company found itself unable to cope with competition from Hyundai and Kia
KIA
-People:* Kia Abdullah , British-Asian author and journalist* Kia Asamiya , Japanese manga artist* Kia Byers , Canadian canoeist* Kia Corthron , American playwright, activist, and television writer...
. After the Daewoo Group gained control in 1982, the name was changed once more to Daewoo Motor. In the early 1990s the company started to expand heavily throughout the world. Until 1996 all Daewoo cars were based on GM-designed models. After the Asian financial crisis reached South Korea in 1997, Daewoo took over the troubled SUV manufacturer SsangYong in 1998, but ran into financial trouble and was forced to sell the company off in 2001 to GM affiliate SAIC.
The establishment of GM Korea
In 2001 General Motors bought most of Daewoo Motor's assets to form GM Daewoo. The new company started operations on October 17, 2002, with GM and its partners SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
and SAIC holding a stake of 66.7% with investments of US$400 million. The GM holding was formally purchased by GM Holden Ltd which holds a seat on the board and is legally responsible for GM Daewoo. The remaining equity stake of 33.3% was held by Korea Development Bank and several other Korean creditors with investments of US$197 million. The deal did not include 15 plants, including Daewoo's oldest plant in Bupyeong-gu which is now operated under the name Incheon Motor Company as a supplier to GM Daewoo. In 2004, Tata Motors
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO...
purchased Daewoo Truck
Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle
Tata Daewoo is a commercial vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea and owned by Tata Motors. It is the second-largest heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer in South Korea....
from GM. In February 2005, GM invested US$49 million to raise its share in the company to 48.2%. In 2010, General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
owned 82.9%, SAIC 9.9 %, and the Daewoo Motor Creditors Committee the remaining 7.2%.
GM Korea has design, engineering, research & development facilities that are involved in development for various GM products, above all small-size cars. On November 25, 2003, the design center was relocated to the new 2-story building at the Bupyeong-gu headquarters. The first car to be produced under the GM Daewoo nameplate was the 2002 GM Daewoo Lacetti
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
, replacing the Nubira
Daewoo Nubira
The Daewoo Nubira is a compact car produced by South Korean automaker Daewoo Motors from 1997 to 2008.The first generation car, model J100, was released to the market in 1997 as Daewoo Nubira, and it was sold until 1999. It was developed as a replacement for the GM T platform-based Daewoo Nexia and...
. This car was developed in South Korea under the Daewoo Motor era, but it gradually became a GM world car
World car
The phrase world car is used to describe a car designed for, or achieving, worldwide sales using the same platform and components, often with variety of body styles...
, sold under many different marques all around the globe. After a few years without any new cars to present, in 2005, GM Daewoo introduced the Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
based Statesman luxury car replacing the discontinued Daewoo Chairman. The third generation of Matiz
Daewoo Matiz
-M100 :The production of Daewoo Matiz started in 1998 and it was sold in South Korea and many European markets with the code name M100. The exterior design is based on the Lucciola, a Fiat Cinquecento concept by Italdesign Giugiaro which had been rejected by Fiat. The 0.8-litre gasoline engine and...
was introduced, refreshed by the GM Daewoo design team, and an evolution of the 4-door Kalos
Daewoo Kalos
The Chevrolet Aveo is the first generation of the Chevrolet Aveo, a subcompact automobile manufactured since 2002 by GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors — originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos and prominently marketed as the Aveo...
appeared: the Gentra.
In early 2006, GM Daewoo presented Tosca
Daewoo Tosca
The Daewoo Tosca is a mid-size car built by GM Daewoo in South Korea and marketed worldwide by General Motors as the Chevrolet Epica, Chevrolet Tosca and Holden Epica. Codenamed V250, it replaces the Daewoo Magnus and its derivatives. The Chevrolet Epica was officially launched in Europe at the...
, the replacement of the Magnus
Daewoo Magnus
The Daewoo Magnus is a mid-size sedan developed and manufactured by Daewoo Motors until its purchase by General Motors, and now built for GM Daewoo Auto & Technology by Daewoo Incheon Motor Company at its Bupyeong facility in South Korea. GM Daewoo and other GM divisions, as well as GMDAT stake...
. GM Daewoo's official press releases says that Tosca is an acronym for "Tomorrow Standard Car". The end of the same year, GM Daewoo introduced the Winstorm
Daewoo Winstorm
- 2006–2011 :Designated C100 by Daewoo and CG in Holden's terminology, the Captiva was launched in 2006. Styling of the Captiva was inspired by the 2004 Chevrolet S3X concept car. The S3X concept was developed by GM Daewoo's design center in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon and is based on the GM Theta...
- its first proper SUV, which was, as the Lacetti, sold worldwide under different marques and names including Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
, Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, GMC
GMC
GMC may refer to:* Ganglion mother cell, a cell in the developing nervous system that divides once to produce two neurons* General motion control, a field of motion control concerned with single- and multi-axis motion controllers, intelligent drives, servo and stepper motors* Generalized Method of...
and Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
, and previously Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
before the demise of that brand in 2010. It featured a common rail
Common rail
Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors...
Diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
for the first time in a Daewoo vehicle, in addition to regular four and six cylinder gasoline engines. The diesel engine design is licensed from the Italian engine maker VM Motori
VM Motori
VM Motori S.p.A. is a diesel engine manufacturing company in Cento, Italy, in Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.- History :...
.
2007 has seen the introduction of the wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
version of the Lacetti and Kalos hatchback's facelift, becoming Gentra X. For 2008, GM Daewoo introduced the first Korean-made roadster: the G2X
Saturn Sky
The Saturn Sky was the only roadster from the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors, and was initially released in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa automobile platform shared with the Pontiac Solstice and Opel GT...
sports car, a badge-engineered Saturn Sky
Saturn Sky
The Saturn Sky was the only roadster from the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors, and was initially released in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa automobile platform shared with the Pontiac Solstice and Opel GT...
, and started to sell the Opel Antara
Opel Antara
The Opel Antara is a compact crossover SUV, which was a co-development between Opel, the German subsidiary of General Motors , and GM Daewoo, the South Korean equivalent. The Antara, based on the GM Theta platform, shares its underpinnings and powertrains with the Chevrolet Captiva. However, it has...
under the name of Winstorm MaXX
Daewoo Winstorm
- 2006–2011 :Designated C100 by Daewoo and CG in Holden's terminology, the Captiva was launched in 2006. Styling of the Captiva was inspired by the 2004 Chevrolet S3X concept car. The S3X concept was developed by GM Daewoo's design center in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon and is based on the GM Theta...
. The Statesman flagship was also replaced by the new Veritas which is now based on the Holden Caprice V.
Late 2008 and early 2009 were a major period for GM Daewoo with the introduction of the all-new Lacetti Premiere
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, which is based on the Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, a very important compact car for GM divisions worldwide. The the newly rechristened third generation of the Matiz was added to the range in 2009 as the Chevrolet Spark.
As of the end of 2011, GM Korea also manufactures the Chevrolet models Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu
Malibus and all other Chevelles were completely restyled for 1968 with semi-fastback rooflines on two-door hardtops and wheelbases split to on two-door models and 118 for four-door sedans and station wagons. Engine offerings included a new V8 rated at that replaced the V8 that had served as the...
and Orlando
Chevrolet Orlando
The Chevrolet Orlando is a five-door, seven-seat compact MPV manufactured by GM Korea under the Chevrolet division for world-wide markets-First generation :It was introduced as a concept vehicle at the 2008 Paris Motor Show...
, as well as the new standalone brand Alpheon.
GM Daewoo cars outside South Korea
Before GM’s buyout, Daewoo cars were available in different countries.In Europe, Daewoo Motor started selling the Espero
Daewoo Espero
The Daewoo Espero is a mid-size car produced by the South Korean company Daewoo Motors from 1990 to 1997. It was technically based on the GM J platform and had the distinction of a body designed by Bertone. It bore more than a passing resemblance to the Citroën Xantia, itself also a Bertone design...
and Cielo-based Nexia in early 1995. The range was then completed by the Lanos
Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a subcompact car manufactured by the Korean automaker Daewoo Motor from 1997 to 2002. It was manufactured under license agreements from 1997 to 2008 by Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych in Poland, where it was marketed as the FSO Lanos, from 1998 to present in Ukraine by AvtoZAZ,...
, Nubira
Daewoo Nubira
The Daewoo Nubira is a compact car produced by South Korean automaker Daewoo Motors from 1997 to 2008.The first generation car, model J100, was released to the market in 1997 as Daewoo Nubira, and it was sold until 1999. It was developed as a replacement for the GM T platform-based Daewoo Nexia and...
and Leganza
Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza is a mid-size sedan produced by the former Daewoo Motors in South Korea between 1997 and 2002. Its internal development name was V100, under which it and its platform are also known....
. The Matiz
Daewoo Matiz
-M100 :The production of Daewoo Matiz started in 1998 and it was sold in South Korea and many European markets with the code name M100. The exterior design is based on the Lucciola, a Fiat Cinquecento concept by Italdesign Giugiaro which had been rejected by Fiat. The 0.8-litre gasoline engine and...
mini car was released in 1998, and was a great success for the company, most notably in non-Asian countries such as Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where it won many awards such as the “Car of the Year” award three times in a row, in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The Rezzo (Tacuma), Evanda
Daewoo Magnus
The Daewoo Magnus is a mid-size sedan developed and manufactured by Daewoo Motors until its purchase by General Motors, and now built for GM Daewoo Auto & Technology by Daewoo Incheon Motor Company at its Bupyeong facility in South Korea. GM Daewoo and other GM divisions, as well as GMDAT stake...
(Magnus) and Kalos
Daewoo Kalos
The Chevrolet Aveo is the first generation of the Chevrolet Aveo, a subcompact automobile manufactured since 2002 by GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors — originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos and prominently marketed as the Aveo...
models were then released, before the SsangYong-based SUVs : Korando
SsangYong Korando
The SsangYong Korando is a small SUV produced from 1983–2006 and from 2010-onwards. The name Korando is a contraction of "Korea Can Do".-First generation:...
, Musso
SsangYong Musso
The SsangYong Musso is a SUV manufactured by the South Korean automobile manufacturer SsangYong Motor Company, from 1993 to 2005. "Musso" means Rhinoceros in Korean....
and Rexton
SsangYong Rexton
The SsangYong Rexton is a sport utility vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, initially released in Korea by the SsangYong Motor Company in late 2001. This vehicle offers standard appointments such as quiet on-road performance, car-like handling, and off-road capability, and can be configured...
. After GM’s buyout, the Daewoo models got a new badge, and were sold under the Daewoo name until 2003: the Nubira III
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
(Lacetti) was the last car to wear a Daewoo badge in Europe. (The former Daewoo models were later rechristened as Chevrolets.)
Daewoo cars were also available in the US & Canada (1997–2002), Australia and many other countries, until Daewoo’s bankruptcy and GM’s buyout. Since Daewoo's withdrawal from many markets, the Lanos was moved to Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
as the Aveo, whereas the Nubira and Leganza were given replacements for either the Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
or Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
brands.
January 1, 2005 saw the introduction of the Chevrolet brand in Europe, the whole Daewoo range being simply badge-engineered as Chevrolets. GM’s official tagline was that
and that this new name was an opportunity for Daewoo to become stronger. Unofficially, after Daewoo’s bankruptcy, former chairman Kim Woo-Choong’s escape and most notably the “Affaire Daewoo” in France (closure and conflagration of the Daewoo-Orion Electronics plant in Longwy, France), the “Daewoo” brand name had a very bad image – so GM simply decided to extend the Chevrolet strategy that was already used in most other markets (Canada, India, Israel, Russia…) since 2003 to create a real global brand, replacing the Daewoo 'dual kidney' with the Chevrolet 'bowtie'.
“Daewoo has grown up enough to become Chevrolet.”
The Winstorm
Daewoo Winstorm
- 2006–2011 :Designated C100 by Daewoo and CG in Holden's terminology, the Captiva was launched in 2006. Styling of the Captiva was inspired by the 2004 Chevrolet S3X concept car. The S3X concept was developed by GM Daewoo's design center in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon and is based on the GM Theta...
and Tosca
Daewoo Tosca
The Daewoo Tosca is a mid-size car built by GM Daewoo in South Korea and marketed worldwide by General Motors as the Chevrolet Epica, Chevrolet Tosca and Holden Epica. Codenamed V250, it replaces the Daewoo Magnus and its derivatives. The Chevrolet Epica was officially launched in Europe at the...
were presented as Chevrolet Captiva and Chevrolet Epica. Some GM Daewoo cars changed names when rebadged; examples are the Matiz which became Chevrolet Spark in some markets (although Chevrolet Matiz was also), or the Kalos which became Aveo (alongside Chevrolet Kalos in other countries). Today, the tendency goes towards a uniformisation in the Chevrolet Europe range: the Spark and Cruze will bear these names throughout all European markets.
GM Korea manufacturing facilities
South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
- Bupyeong-gu : vehicle assembly and gasoline/LPG engine manufacturing (production capacity: est. 440,000/year)
- GunsanGunsanGunsan is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is located on the south bank of the Geum River just upstream from its exit into the Yellow Sea. Gunsan is served by frequent railway service on the Gunsan Line from Iksan. It is also connected to the Seohaean Expressway.Kunsan Air Base...
: vehicle assembly and diesel engine manufacturing (production capacity: est. 260,000/year) - ChangwonChangwonChangwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
: vehicle assembly and gasoline/LPG engine manufacturing (production capacity: est. 210,000/year) - BoryeongBoryeongBoryeong, commonly known as Daecheon, is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , on the coast of the Yellow Sea. It lies on the Janghang Line railroad, which connects it to Seoul via the Gyeongbu Line. It is also connected to the Seohaean Expressway...
: transmission and engine components manufacturing
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
- HanoiHanoiHanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
: VIDAMCO (Vietnam Daewoo Motor Co.) vehicle assembly (production capacity: est. 11,000/year)
Daewoo Motor/GM Korea emblems, slogans and logos
- The first car logo was the "DAEWOO" Daewoo Group logo lettering.
- The Royale SeriesDaewoo RoyaleThe Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo Motors in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993...
featured a crown-like logo, very similar to the Daewoo Royals football team logo. - A "double D" logo was then used on the cars (as seen on Cielo, Espero, Brougham, Imperial...)
- Giugiaro redesigned this logo in 1994 (first seen on the Bucrane concept)
- On the European SUV line (Korando, Musso, Rexton), Daewoo Motor used a new version of this emblem, more squared. Later on, this logo was used by Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd (trucks), and Tata Daewoo.
- GM Daewoo emblem in 2002 : a modernized evolution of the Daewoo Motor logo.
- To be detailed : SsangYong-Daewoo logo, Statesman & Veritas hood ornament
- Slogans : 1995 "A different kind of car company? That'll be the Daewoo" (UK)
- "Daewoo, that's who"
- 2000 "Better future"
- 2002 "Driving innovation"
- 2008 "New ways, Always"
- 2011 "Chevrolet, is the car"
Daewoo Performance Automobiles
Daewoo Performance Automobiles was the performance car division of GM Daewoo. Like Holden's HSVHolden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
and Opel's OPC
Opel Performance Center
Opel Performance Center GmbH, commonly known as OPC, is an independent subsidiary of the german automaker Opel, which is responsible for the planning, development and coordination of all motorsport activities in charge of Opel in Europe....
, this company modified GM Daewoo models in South Korea and marketed them under the DPA brandname.
See also
- Alpheon
- ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
- Daewoo BusDaewoo BusDaewoo Bus Corporation is a manufacturer of buses. headquartered in Busan, South Korea, established in 2002. These buses are primarily used for public transportation. Daewoo Bus is South Korea's second-largest bus manufacturer, and has been in parnership with GM Daewoo since 2006...
(GM Korea affiliate) - Daewoo Motor SalesDaewoo Motor SalesDaewoo Motor Sales is an auto sales company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1991. Daewoo Motor Sales operates dealerships in South Korea which sell vehicles from SsangYong, Daewoo Bus, and Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle. In the past, Daewoo Motor Sales has sold vehicles...
- General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
- List of Daewoo models
- List of Korean car makers