After 22 Years, Cavalier Production has Ceased
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After 22 Years, Cavalier Production has Ceased
<img src="http://gozips.uakron.edu/~jdz1/cavy.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="2">By DON SHILLING- LORDSTOWN 10-06-04
-The Lordstown car complex was to produce its final Chevrolet Cavalier this morning.
Plant and union officials were to say a few words as the last Cavalier came down the line and then start to focus on the plant's new model, the Chevrolet Cobalt, said Tom Mock, a plant spokesman.
Mock said he thinks many workers are sentimental about ending production of the Cavalier after 22 years. The plant has made just shy of 5 million Cavaliers
"It's been our trophy car for 22 years. It's been a phenomenal car," Mock said.
There are no special plans for the last Cavalier, so it will end up on a dealer's lot, he said.
Preparing for Cobalt
Most workers at the plant will be given time off from today through Monday as the plant gears up for Cobalt production. Team leaders, however, will be at the plant for training, Mock said.
When all workers return Tuesday, Cobalts will be coming down the line for training.
So far, the plant has been working on Cobalts mixed in with Cavaliers. The plant has produced about 400 Cobalts, which have been used by General Motors' employees for test driving.
Mock said production of sellable Cobalts is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 17, but a specific date has not been set.
Each Cobalt will be followed by nine vacant assembly-line spaces to give workers time to work with new production methods, Mock said. Those vacant spaces will be reduced as time goes on, he said.
The assembly plant at the Lordstown complex has about 3,700 hourly workers, while the fabricating plant has about 1,800.
GM is spending about $1 billion to revamp the complex to prepare for production of the Cobalt, which Chevrolet is calling a premium small car.
The starting price for the base model is $14,190. Chevrolet says the Cobalt will impress buyers with its power, handling and ride.
Mexico plant
Meanwhile, GM also will stop making the Cavalier and four-door Pontiac Sunfire this month at its plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, said Dan Flores, a GM spokesman. The Lordstown plant stopped producing the Sunfire earlier this year.
The two-door Sunfire will continue to be made in Mexico until sometime in the middle of next year, he said. He said most of the Cavaliers and Sunfires from that plant are sold in Canada.
In 2003, the Mexican plant produced about 48,000 Cavaliers and Sunfires, compared with 335,000 in Lordstown. The plant also produces another small Chevrolet model for the Mexican market, while a nearby plant produces the Pontiac Aztec and Buick Rendezvous.
-The Lordstown car complex was to produce its final Chevrolet Cavalier this morning.
Plant and union officials were to say a few words as the last Cavalier came down the line and then start to focus on the plant's new model, the Chevrolet Cobalt, said Tom Mock, a plant spokesman.
Mock said he thinks many workers are sentimental about ending production of the Cavalier after 22 years. The plant has made just shy of 5 million Cavaliers
"It's been our trophy car for 22 years. It's been a phenomenal car," Mock said.
There are no special plans for the last Cavalier, so it will end up on a dealer's lot, he said.
Preparing for Cobalt
Most workers at the plant will be given time off from today through Monday as the plant gears up for Cobalt production. Team leaders, however, will be at the plant for training, Mock said.
When all workers return Tuesday, Cobalts will be coming down the line for training.
So far, the plant has been working on Cobalts mixed in with Cavaliers. The plant has produced about 400 Cobalts, which have been used by General Motors' employees for test driving.
Mock said production of sellable Cobalts is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 17, but a specific date has not been set.
Each Cobalt will be followed by nine vacant assembly-line spaces to give workers time to work with new production methods, Mock said. Those vacant spaces will be reduced as time goes on, he said.
The assembly plant at the Lordstown complex has about 3,700 hourly workers, while the fabricating plant has about 1,800.
GM is spending about $1 billion to revamp the complex to prepare for production of the Cobalt, which Chevrolet is calling a premium small car.
The starting price for the base model is $14,190. Chevrolet says the Cobalt will impress buyers with its power, handling and ride.
Mexico plant
Meanwhile, GM also will stop making the Cavalier and four-door Pontiac Sunfire this month at its plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, said Dan Flores, a GM spokesman. The Lordstown plant stopped producing the Sunfire earlier this year.
The two-door Sunfire will continue to be made in Mexico until sometime in the middle of next year, he said. He said most of the Cavaliers and Sunfires from that plant are sold in Canada.
In 2003, the Mexican plant produced about 48,000 Cavaliers and Sunfires, compared with 335,000 in Lordstown. The plant also produces another small Chevrolet model for the Mexican market, while a nearby plant produces the Pontiac Aztec and Buick Rendezvous.
Last edited by JonyyB; Nov 11, 2004 at 11:21 PM.
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From: Virginia
so true the Cavalier has been a very phenominal, and extremely popular car. it ahd been a worthy advisary agianst civics, neons, and all hte others in the sport compact world. but i think this si perfect timing to the cavalier to make it's last run. it's time that chevy made a more aggressive looking/sounding car. Cobalt is indeed the way to go adn for 22 years the cavy has seenn better days, it will be missed by many j-body fans. speaking of which any word on the the platform is called on this new phenomenon? is this a J as well? also what is pontiac doing with there sunfire? are they going to live out the J-body? and be known as the last true j-body created? or will they fallow in the foot steps on the brother J adn creat a different looking car to match the cobalts platform? who knows?
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Joined: 04-20-04
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From: Raritan, NJ
Yeah the Cavy was great! I miss mine tremendously though...i had to sell him 
but i got my old ford explorer back and i love that thing too....gets me where i need to go. I just wish i could get the cobalt instead of the cavy!
but i got my old ford explorer back and i love that thing too....gets me where i need to go. I just wish i could get the cobalt instead of the cavy!
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From: MA
In a way I am glad to see it go. It was dying out a couple of years ago. Chevy didnt want to put any more money into the car since it was going to be replaced by the Cobalt. I did own a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. Not a bad car, but the aftermarket at that time was low. I sold it and bought a Chevy S-10 Pickup.
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