Subject: This is the end...
10/10/2018 @ 00:26:12: eLMeR: This is the end...
Only 15 of them have been identified for now in the IMCDb, but I'm not sure there will be a lot more: Tata announced the end of production of the Nano a few months ago, as the "world's cheapest car" didn't sell well after 10 years of production: only... 1 vehicle was produced in June this year :tinostar:
Requiescat in Pace!
14/10/2018 @ 03:49:44: eLMeR: This is the end...
2019 will be the last model year for the Adams, Karls and Cascadas.
PSA Group says it's because of new emission standards in Europe. Spiteful tongues (including me :wink: ) might just think that the disposal of the GM products from the vehicle line has begun :grin:

As a reminder:
Adam:2013-19
Karl:2015-19
Cascada:2013-19
14/10/2018 @ 05:22:28: dsl: This is the end...
The Karl's demise is no surprise as it's a rebadged Chevrolet imported from Korea, so expensive liability for PSA with minimal profit opportunity. I've only ever seen 2 of the UK-equivalent Vauxhall Viva, and I doubt if Karl sales figures were very high.

The Adam's survived for 6 years, which is quite good for a niche fashion car before it gets stale. UK Vauxhall Adam sales were OK at first but have now trickled to almost nothing.

Cascada another slow-selling fashion item, and after 6 years probably at the end of its natural life. Plus the loss of sales arrangements to US as Buick and Aus as Holden as GM back away from buying product from a competitor.

So all 3 cases are no surprise - low demand ranges with minimal market impact and inconvenient legacy arrangements cluttering up a smooth separation. And I doubt if they'll really be missed. There's also a fair bit of range rationalisation in UK at the moment across several firms as the new emissions testing procedures come in - lots of variants either being withdrawn or sales suspended until new ECU software is available - so PSA's explanation is plausible in a wider context.
14/10/2018 @ 06:55:58: eLMeR: This is the end...
[...] so PSA's explanation is plausible in a wider context.

Of course. The main cause of these disappearances is the implementation of the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) (1), as all new vehicles will have to comply with it in January 2020 (January 2019 for new approvals of vehicles).
But life is sometimes funnier with some mockery / voluntary misinterpretation :wink:
_____

Edit:
1: My bad, the January 2020 deadline concerns the implementation of the Euro 6D standard. The WLTP is a test procedure and a display procedure for the concerned results, not a pollution standard.
14/10/2018 @ 09:08:41: antp: This is the end...
Incredible, I didn't even know that the Opel Karl existed :tinostar:
14/10/2018 @ 21:12:04: ingo: This is the end...
The most Cascadas I have seen shortly after this model was released - the 0-Series-cars on the secret test range area of Opel
(we had a meeting of the German classic car club association there).

Actually the Cascada didn't appear over here at all. It takes weeks, even months, until you spot one over here.
14/10/2018 @ 22:04:09: Mystery Man: This is the end...
I wondered anyway who bought these cars. Two superminis and one convertible - in these categories there are many alternatives that are cheaper or more prestigious than Opel.
15/10/2018 @ 00:08:26: night cub: This is the end...
My brother drives a Cascada. He got it after his Infiniti lease ran out and he was looking for a similar convertible since Infiniti discontinued theirs. He prefers the Infiniti. He's now talking about getting a Wrangler because his full mid-life crisis is kicking in.
15/10/2018 @ 00:25:10: ingo: This is the end...
... because his full mid-life crisis is kicking in.


My wife says, it's my midlife crisis, but my thought about my next all-day-car, when the Vauxhall Vectra MkII is exhausted (yesterday the accu died), are reasoned by the actual political and medial hysteria in Germany.

The thoughts are going into the direction of Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover HSE or Lincoln Navigator.

Also due political reasons I'm hoping, that my Vectra stayed sturdy until the conversion to a coal roller.
15/10/2018 @ 12:49:51: dsl: This is the end...
.... thoughts are going into the direction of Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover HSE or Lincoln Navigator.

Also due political reasons I'm hoping, that my Vectra stayed sturdy until the conversion to a coal roller.


Pimpmobiles for footballers wives. Or chavs.

Coal roller?? Do you mean (Toyota) Corolla??
15/10/2018 @ 16:08:55: ingo: This is the end...

Pimpmobiles for footballers wives. Or chavs.

Coal roller?? Do you mean (Toyota) Corolla??


No, I mean:
https://youtu.be/HNiF1UEjrE0

My wife says something similar with chavs and so on, but my opinion is based on the actual grotesque hysteria in Germany.
She days, pure chavvy would be, if I would grab a cheap Rolls-Royce, exploiting the generally low used car prices in the UK in combination with the expectable Brexit-turbulences.
15/10/2018 @ 19:54:00: Sandie: This is the end...
... Range Rover HSE...


https://youtu.be/86URGgqONvA
20/10/2018 @ 13:05:06: Exiv96: This is the end...
I wondered anyway who bought these cars. Two superminis and one convertible - in these categories there are many alternatives that are cheaper or more prestigious than Opel.


My father bought a Cascada two years ago. A low-mileage, ex-demonstrator. 1.4 litre, 6-speed manual. Gawd I hate those ! I stalled twice, and missed a gear when I test-drove it.

And it's not the only ex-demonstrator Cascada I've come across. Maybe that's how Opel Belgium sells them.

As for why buying a Cascada ? The Renault Mégane cabriolet was gone, so was the Peugeot 308 CC, Ford Focus CC & VW Eos. The Golf Cabrio is meh, the Mazda MX-5 is too small, and the premium germans too expensive.
06/02/2020 @ 01:50:11: eLMeR: This is the end...
• The DS 3 says "good bye World" (fr) for the (French) 2020 model year1.

• The Fiat 124 says apparently the same thing except for the USA. If I'm not mistaken, that means no more coupé nor cabriolet in PSA/FCA models.
_____

1: which is the same as the calendar year.
06/02/2020 @ 08:25:53: antp: This is the end...
Sad for the DS3, I liked it.
I hesitated between that and the 208, back in 2013-2014.
I took the 208 by habit: I had a 206SW, I knew the Peugeot garage near where I live. And it was slightly cheaper if I remember well.
Ironically that Peugeot garage is now closed and last time I had to go to a garage for servicing, I went to the Citroën garage close to where I live :grin:
06/02/2020 @ 21:08:48: Baube: This is the end...
kind of ironic.. wondering if you had chosen the Citroen if their garage would be closed and Peugeot's one open.. anyway, all goes into PSA's pockets.. :wink:

I like the DS3's redesign in 2016 , sad for it even if i don't know it..
06/02/2020 @ 21:24:11: Sandie: This is the end...
I wonder how much longer the DS experiment can last, the DS3 was the only popular one and its ugly crossover replacement doesn't seem to be particularly popular.
06/02/2020 @ 23:18:45: dsl: This is the end...
Sad for the DS3, I liked it. I hesitated between that and the 208, back in 2013-2014.


I had a high-spec DS3 diesel rental for a couple of months in summer 2013 - the fleets were full of them at one stage as if dumping unsold stock. Really nice to drive - ended up at one stage letting my nephew practice on it when he was learning to drive because the controls were so easy and friendly. But 2 big flaws - almost no rear legroom even with seats fairly well forward - impossible for anyone more than 10 years old to use back seats. And the very snazzy shiny black "wood"/chrome trim all round the cabin was already badly scratched despite only being a month or two old. So after a year it would have been a total mess. I was never very keen on the 208 - it felt built down to a price rather than designed to be enjoyed - but I'd guess it was the better choice in the real world outside the shiny showroom.
09/02/2020 @ 04:14:47: Exiv96: This is the end...
• The DS 3 says "good bye World" (fr) for the (French) 2020 model year1.


The DS3 was already nowhere to be seen at DS's booth during the Brussels Motor Show, back in January. Only those ugly Crossbacks.
18/02/2020 @ 19:19:53: night cub: This is the end...
The writing has been on the wall for a while now, but it offical, the Holden brand is coming to an end by the end of 2020.

"MELBOURNE – The Holden brand will be retired from sales in Australia and New Zealand and local design and engineering operations will wind down by 2021, General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today. Maven and Holden Financial Services operations will also wind down in Australia.

GM International Operations Senior Vice President Julian Blissett said GM had taken the difficult decision after implementing and considering numerous options to maintain and turn around Holden operations.

“Through its proud 160-year history, Holden has not only made cars, it has been a powerful driver of the industrialization and advancement of Australia and New Zealand,” said Blissett.

“Over recent years, as the industry underwent significant change globally and locally, we implemented a number of alternative strategies to try to sustain and improve the business, together with the local team.”

GM undertook a detailed analysis of the investment required for Holden to be competitive beyond the current generation of products. Factors impacting the business case for further investment included the highly fragmented right-hand-drive markets, the economics to support growing the brand, and delivering an appropriate return on investment.

“After comprehensive assessment, we regret that we could not prioritize the investment required for Holden to be successful for the long term in Australia and New Zealand, over all other considerations we have globally,” said Blissett.

“This decision is based on global priorities and does not reflect the hard work, talent and professionalism of the Holden team.”

GM intends to focus its growth strategy in Australia and New Zealand on the specialty vehicles business and plans to immediately work with its partner on developing these plans."

https://media.gm.com/media/au/en/holden/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/au/e- n/2020/feb/0217_Holden.html


Also affected by this decision is a pullback in the Thai market, and GM will be selling it's factory in India according to Autoweek. Plans to sell the Thai plant to Great Wall of China are underway according to autoblog.

https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a30978884/holden-brand-axed-in-australia-as-gm-pulls-back-from-region/

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/02/17/gm-kills-holden-brand-australia/


Even Holden's main rival paid respect to the news, from Ford Australia's Twitter:

>1/1 - All of us here at Ford Australia are saddened to hear the news that Holden will cease operations. Holden is an iconic brand that holds a special place in the heart of many Australians, and has done so much to shape the Australian automotive industry and the country...

>2/2 - Its vehicles have been worthy competitors both on road and on the racetrack. To our friends at Holden, thank you for keeping us on our toes and inspiring us to keep aiming higher. We will miss you.</p>— Ford Australia (@FordAustralia)

https://www.motor1.com/news/399109/ford-tweets-respects-holden-brand/


I guess the real question is how much longer will there be RHD vehicles?
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