from GMinsidenews.

Camaro production to halt after 2010?
Possible, thanks to onerous EPA regulations and GM's acceptance of bailout cash.

After all the teasing, all the rumors, all the false starts, the ups, the downs, production of the all-new Camaro has finally started. But after all the hoops and hoopla, could production come to an end after but one year? According to insiders, this is more than an outside possibility.

Thanks to a little read detail in the bailout agreement, the Camaro may in fact be outlawed when new EPA regulations kick in Jan 1st, 2011.

The problem appears to be one of three things:

1. The Camaro is classified as a "Midsize"
2. New EPA regulations being inacted 2011 forbid two separate midsize vehicles that do not share the same basic architecture or platform or face a nominal fine on a per vehicle sold basis.
3. Provisions in the bailout, in order to gain greater EPA compliance, forbid violating any of the new EPA regulations.

Currently, the mid-size stable at GM is occupied by the Epsilon platform, which is their highest selling platform worldwide. Under new rules, technically the new Camaro would have to share significant architecture to be allowable, which it does not. Either GM would have to scrap the Epsilon cars, or the Camaro. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure which would get the axe.

What about the Challenger and Mustang?
These rules don't apply to cars that are not classified as midsized. The Mustang retains a "compact" classification, while the portly challenger is listed as a "fullsize." Also, the strict adherence to the EPA regulations is only deemed if bailout cash was accepted by the automaker, of which Ford accepted none.

One person we talked to believed Ford executives based their decision to not accept bailout money due to the stipulation to adhere strictly to the new EPA regulations, believing them to be "onerous in application." Our insider noted that Ford is not much better off cash-wise than either GM or Chrysler, but felt the EPA standards would be too costly to implement immediately, far less costly than the fines they may likely incur.

What are the Camaro's chances?
It depends on how you look at it. The car might still remain in production; but it might not continue to be sold here in the U.S.

If by 2011, things are looking better for GM, and they likely won't need anymore infusions of cash from the government, GM will likely continue to sell the Camaro in the US market, quickly paying off it's loans so it does not have to adhere as strictly to the EPA standards as they would if they still owed.

If the economy continues to labor, and GM either hasn't payed back the loans, or isn't capable of paying off the loans, then Camaro production would dwindle, with cars only being exported for foreign markets. This would allow for a reintroduction once the debt is satisfied.

But if foreign markets don't take to the distinctively American styling and performance priorities, production may in fact be halted.

There is hope!
Other avenues open to continued to be explored, including negotiations with the Whitehouse and Congress. Rick Wagoner is said to be in Washington this weekend lobbying for some flexibility with the EPA rules. Though one insider present in negotiations note that many in the meetings are more concerned with environmental impact of breaking the EPA regulations; he also noted that some representing congress in the negotiations understands the situation GM is in, and is willing to push for some changes.

Our insider within the product planning division notes that the platform used for the camaro is very flexible, underpinning some fullsize cars overseas. She notes that plans are being worked on to increase the interior capacity to bring the Camaro up to "fullsize" status. She notes that they cannot realistically make the car smaller. She sadly also notes that the lengthening to get to fullsize specifications would also result in a car with different proportions and probably 300 lbs. more weight.

Best case scenario?
Easily being for a quick upturn in the economy and a quick pay down of loans, allowing GM greater leeway with EPA compliance. Otherwise you might be reading about how great Aussie auto enthusiast have it with the readily available Camaro, or contemplating a distorted, overweight facsimile of what we once called, "the Camaro."

 

Anyone have the foggiest idea why 2 midsized is a problem.

The EPA, like CARB never ceases to amaze me with their weird ideas.

BTW, turn on all your lights at 8:30 tonight and leave some gas out to vaporize.

 

Tom,
Do you have a direct link to that article? I went to GMinsidenews and couldn't find the story.

 

Bret, no I dont. thats the whole thing posted on a board Kevin and I frequent.
I do know that the person who posted it, his mom works for a big GM dealer.

 

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting this info. Keep us updated if you hear anything else.

 

Sounds like an instant collectors car is coming!

 

good I hope this happens , Those cars look like absolute crap

 

Now we'll never know if 5th gen seats fit out 3rd gens!

 

I think they look awesome.

 

This is our beloved government looking out for us.

I just heard that Waggoner is stepping down as head of GM. Take the graft, and hit the golden parachute while the money is still there.

TA

 

He is resigning "at the request of the white house".
I guess obama is Pres of GM now.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gm_wagoner

What happens when the Govt takes over ALL the major businesses in the US?

 

Well now this doesn't look like the road to communism does it? I also applaud Ford for not accepting bailout money. When GM accepted this agreement they betrayed free trade and their customers, although I blame the unions just as much...

 

Would that be the same Rick Wagoner that just got canned by the gov't? I've read that the Zeta platform has problems with future gov't regulations, but not that soon. I'm not surprised if the plug gets pulled on the Camaro. I'll be sad, but I won't be surprised.

Lon

 

that is Communism

 

G.M. doesn't need to go along with Obama, just go borrow the money from a bank. When you borrow money, you need to show an ability to repay the loan. G.M. is bankrupt, or they would not be trying to borrow money from the government. It is too bad that the government didn't require as much from the banks as they are requiring from the auto companies before they threw away all of that money to AIG and the banks.

 

lol, I was thinking the same thing.

 

I don't buy 1st year cars(anymore), too many bugs that haven't been worked out yet but I'm ready to replace my wife's 2006 Mustang for a 2011 Camaro SS.

I think GM would of been smarter to make the Camaro a bit smaller & at least 500lbs lighter but then it would be in Vet territory at the price of a Mustang.

 

Could they not just reclassify it to something else?
To me this sounds stupid to forbid two separate midsize vehicles when that seems like the biggest seller. Why would you not do that to the full-size gas guzzlers that few are buying?

 

It is a government decision. Does anything the government does make any sense?

 

Wouldn't hurt my feelings. Wrong proportions, weight, price, styling, targeted buyer, rear suspension, etc. It's more of a 1970 Monte carlo than a 1969 Camaro. I would prefer the Solstice GXP.

 

From my understanding the Camaro has never worked and wont work. The Vette will always fit the platform better. They wasted alot of money and time on the Camaro, it has failed, They should have got that Volt together while they where selling all those Suv's everybody was liking, then maybe they wouldnt need all this bail out money. In the end where all screwed.

 

If GM goes belly up its a mute subject anyway.

 

The camaro has worked it was the average man affordable sports car. It's worked great, I see 20 camaro for every 1 vette at less. Camaros use to be the car to have back in the day, along with the trans am, I never hear older people say "dang I wish I had a vette back then"; It's always a camaro or trans am and sometimes a mustang. The vette may be "better" but more camaro sell then vette any day due to the vette price tag. Everyone wants a sports car, some can't afforded the vette (it's only going to get harder in this economy), so they get a camaro. The problem is that this new camaro is getting away from the "average man affordable sports car" and near the vette area and that is not where it needs to go. The camaro needs to stay the mustangs nemesis and the vette needs to keep being the flag ship.

 

This is a wait and see situation. GM has a lot invested in the new Camaro. To say it's over before it's even gotten started is premature.

Some of this smacks of a marketing ploy to help drive sales — Get one before it's gone! The last of legend!

I remember back in 1985 when the IROC Camaro came out. I went to a dealership in Van Nuys and test drove one. The salesman tried to tell me that it was going to be the only year that TPI would be available on the Camaro, it would be special ...etc.