Chevrolet SS "unlikely" to be replaced, says GM

General Motors has seemingly sounded the death knell for its Chevrolet SS nameplate, confirming the Australian-built version will not be replaced in the US after this year.

Speaking at the Detroit motor show overnight, General Motors North American boss Alan Batey said that the Chevrolet-badged Holden Commodore had done “really well” in its role as General Motors’ road-going NASCAR. However, once production of the Commodore in Australia ceases late this year, so too will the Chevrolet SS nameplate.

“The SS is the vehicle that we use in NASCAR, and we’re coming off a great season with Jimmie Johnson winning the championship,” Batey told motoring.com.au.

“Using the old adage of ‘win on Sunday, buy on Monday’, we decided that in small numbers we’d introduce the SS – because we could, frankly, and at a pretty low cost.

“I would say that the SS has been really well received. It’s been small volume but it’s been really well received. It’s unlikely there will be anything to follow because you know what’s happening Down Under in Australia.

“It was an optimistic play from our perspective but it’s played out really well and it’s been a nice addition to the range.”

GM has already confirmed the continuation of an “affordable rear-drive V8 sedan” within its Australian range beyond the current Commodore. However, the picture is still no clearer on what that will be.

Meantime, Holden stakeholders have confirmed that production of the Chevy SS will cease earlier than that of the Australian-plated Holden Commodore.

“The last Holden Commodore will not be a Chevrolet,” Holden managing director Mark Bernhard said. “We will stop making Chevrolets before we stop building the Commodore … there’s zero chance of that happening.”

Bernhard revealed plans were on track to continue supplying Chevrolet with the SS sports sedan and Caprice police cars through to 2017.

“I’m not sure of their marketing plans [in the US], but they will have cars through 2017,” he said.

“They’ve got their orders in. I know what we’re building but I don’t know what they’ll be selling when.”