The Chevrolet Metro was the last phase of a small economy car sold in North America from 1989 to 2001 as a joint effort between General Motors and Suzuki. It carried the Geo name until 1997 and the Chevrolet name from 1998, and was replaced by the Aveo.
Chevrolet Metro at a glance
| Sold in North America | 1989–2001 |
|---|---|
| Names | Geo Metro to 1997, Chevrolet Metro from 1998 |
| Based on | Suzuki Cultus |
| Generations | three |
| Body styles | Three-door hatchback, four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, two-door convertible |
| Assembly | Suzuki in Japan to 1989, CAMI in Ingersoll, Ontario from 1990 |
| 1997 US sales | 55,600, down from 88,700 |
| Production ended | April 2001 |
| Replaced by | Chevrolet Aveo |
The article is based on the English Wikipedia page on the Geo Metro, which covers the Chevrolet-badged years.
History of the Chevrolet Metro
The Metro was a version of the Suzuki Cultus sold in North America as a joint GM and Suzuki effort. In the United States it wore the Geo nameplate from 1989 to 1997 and the Chevrolet badge from 1998 to 2001. Over thirteen years it went through three generations and four body styles: a three-door hatchback, a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback and a two-door convertible.
Cultus-derived cars sold in North America between 1985 and 1989, including the Suzuki Forsa, Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Sprint, Geo Metro and Pontiac Firefly, came from Suzuki’s Japanese plants. From 1990 all of these North American cars were built at CAMI Automotive, the 50-50 venture between General Motors and Suzuki in Ingersoll, Ontario, although Japanese production continued to supply sedans for Canada. CAMI never reached its intended capacity.
As small cars fell out of favour, Chevrolet and Geo sold 55,600 Metros in the United States in 1997, down from 88,700 the year before. Canadian production of the Swift, Metro and Firefly had once exceeded 100,000 vehicles a year, but fell to 32,000 in 2000. In April 2001 CAMI confirmed that Metro production had ended in Ontario. From late 2003 the Daewoo Kalos, sold as the Chevrolet Aveo, Pontiac Wave and Suzuki Swift+, effectively took the Metro’s place in the range.
Design and features
- Suzuki engineering: the Metro was a Suzuki Cultus with GM badges.
- Four body styles: hatchbacks, sedan and a convertible.
- Canadian assembly: built by the CAMI joint venture in Ontario from 1990.
- Fuel economy: a small, light car designed for low running costs.
Chevrolet Metro versions
- Geo Metro (1989–1997): the original Geo-badged cars.
- Chevrolet Metro (1998–2001): the same car under the Chevrolet name.
- Convertible: a two-door open version of the hatchback.
- Sedan: the four-door model, partly supplied from Japan for Canada.
The Metro was replaced by the Chevrolet Aveo and sat below the Chevrolet Cavalier. More cars are in the Chevrolet collection.
Sources
- Geo Metro, English Wikipedia: history, generations, production, sales
