HSV Chevrolet Camaro future uncertain

The future of the HSV Chevrolet Camaro in Australia is under study as General Motors and the Walkinshaw Group negotiate the terms and structure of the new GM Specialty Vehicles business.

GMSV – as it is being referred at the moment – is being created in the wake of Holden’s axing by General Motors last month.

Walkinshaw has converted 1200 2SS Camaro V8 coupes to right-hand drive since September 2018 but currently has no plans to convert any more.

It is in the process of building about 320 supercharged Camaro ZL1s.

The 1200 2SS Camaros were split between 500 MY18 and 700 MY19s.

The ZL1s are 2019 and 2020 model years, the latter auto-only.

While the ZL1 retails for $159,990 plus on-road costs and therefore presents the opportunity for HSV and its dealers to make some money, the 2SS has proved more of a challenge at around $85,990 plus on-road costs.

“It [Camaro] forms part of the discussion with GM around model year ’21,” confirmed Walkinshaw Group CEO Tim Jackson.

He said the cost of emissions had become an issue for 2SS, but more so the worsening exchange rate between the Aussie and US dollars making imported cars more expensive.

“It [exchange rate] continues to move in the wrong direction, so the ability for us to make a profit – as well as our dealers to make profit – was disappearing.

“There are about 200-250 Camaros in the market and they are selling consistently. We sell 40-50 per month.”

Jackson stressed the 2SS could return for model year ’21.

“It is forming part of the discussion (with GM) on what the specialty world looks like going forward,” he said.

“That informs every part of our range now. In our view our range continues, but what form that takes and where it brings in new model years and that sort of thing, that conversation is wrapped up in a lot of our discussions with GM.”

That discussion also affects the new Corvette and models Walkinshaw was already planning before Holden was axed, including the new Chevrolet Suburban SUV plus 2500HD, 3500HD and other versions of the new full-size MY20 Silverado 1500 being launched this month.

The Walkinshaw Park facility in Clayton, which also converts RAM trucks for American Special Vehicles but will soon end Colorado SportsCat production, has estimated annual capacity of just over 10,000 vehicles.