Chevrolet Malibu to replace Epica in China

Chevrolet China, Spy Shots | Ash | December 28, 2010 at 9:07 pm

The rumor mill is in full swing again, and this time it is Chevrolet’s turn. The Epica is a rapidly aging sedan that Chevrolet have managed to successfully sell on as a bargain bin alternative to rival competitors models. Now the Epica is going to be replaced by the Chevrolet Malibu and will be based on the Epsilon II platform which is also shared with the Buick Regal, the Epsilon II based Malibu is not set to debut until early or mid 2011 and will be known as a 2012 model but it appears to have already been spotted out testing within China.

What is clear now is that the recently launched BaoJun brand will be the new economy model for the Chinese market from GM, and Chevrolet will be getting pushed up a notch in the GM family tree. Chevrolet was originally the economy brand from Chevrolet, but BaoJun will pick up the slack, Buick was the affordable premium brand but with Chevrolet moving on up, will Buick move on up as well? GM seems to be taking a leaf out of VW’s book and playing its brands in the right way.

Chevrolet will also be getting the new Chevrolet Aveo which was shown off in China for the first time last week at the Guangzhou Auto Show.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.