Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinjlm
Yeah. New platforms cost billion$. You need to be able to get enough volume off of the platform to justify the cost. Except for Corvette. Corvette can cover the cost by staying on the same platform with gradual improvements over a longer timespan. When F-body was in full swing, Camaro and Firebird volume was enough to cover the costs. With no Pontiac, that left just Camaro. Not enough volume for a unique platform. Sigma (CTS, STS, SRX) was a Cadillac platform and they weren’t in the mood to share it. Plus there were a number of additional programs targeted to go on Sigma, so Camaro was way down the list. The first time Zeta was considered it didn’t work because the only module for it was in Australia. There is a cap on volume that could be imported from Australia. GTO / Chevy SS volume worked but it was too low for what Camaro needed. So the idea of duplicating the platform in Oshawa got support and that’s where 5th Gen came in. By the time Alpha came along, different leadership in Cadillac that also realized Camaro volume would help spread the cost of the platform to make a better business case for ATS / CTS.
Strategic shifts are most often about the numbers.  |
Glad Cadillac agreed to share the Alpha platform with the Camaro. Back in the 60s and 70s GM was known for sharing platforms among divisions. I guess Cadillac became protective at some point trying to be more exclusive than other divisions. In today's environment and with a trimmer GM, it makes economic sense to share platforms where possible.