1st year Camaro convertible production set at 20,000 cars. Magna to build roof.

[Tran]

January 26, 2010.

DETROIT -- Magna International Inc. will build the convertible top for the Chevrolet Camaro.

General Motors Co. reassigned the contract to Magna, of Aurora, Ontario, last year when a rival supplier, Germany's Edscha AG, filed for insolvency, said two sources familiar with the discussions.

GM put first-year Camaro convertible production at about 20,000 units, the sources say, which could make it one of the largest North American ragtop contracts. Only the Ford Mustang, with production of about 20,000 convertibles last year, would rival that volume.

GM spokesman Adam Denison declined to comment.

North American convertible system production is at its lowest point in years. Only 41,380 were built through late November of last year, down from 200,000 four years ago, say industry sources.

The drastic reduction has hit convertible-top builders including Edscha, which initially had won the Camaro program. Webasto AG, a leading car top supplier, acquired Edscha's assets last year.

GM worried that Edscha's troubles would spill over into its Camaro program, the sources say.

Drastic sales declines last year and GM's bankruptcy forced the automaker to kill several convertible programs, including the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Cadillac XLR roadster.

Those programs were supplied by Magna's Car Top Systems group which also supplies the Corvette convertible.

Magna is slated to build the Camaro top at its Bowling Green, Ky., plant, with fabric from its Mexican operations.

A spokesman for Magna, North America's largest parts maker, declined to comment.

Last May, GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan told Automotive News that the Camaro convertible would be ready for production in the first quarter of 2011. But that date appears to have slipped to the second half of 2011, sources said.

Magna ranked No. 1 on the Automotive News list of the 150 largest suppliers in North America, with parts sales to automakers of $11.42 billion in 2008.

News courtesy of autonews.com

[extremepcs]

GM should make 20,001, just to stick it to Ford...

[wayner]

20,002:
I will take one also.

[pony]

Originally Posted by Tran

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan told Automotive News that the Camaro convertible would be ready for production in the first quarter of 2011. But that date appears to have slipped to the second half of 2011, sources said.

Thanks for the news find. However, I did find the one statement discouraging for those of us waiting this long already. Now a potential 6 month kick in the

I just don't know how much longer I can hold out.

[01pewterz28]

Becky from Rodgers Chevrolet has my 2012 2SS/RS RJT Convertible order

[v6sonoma]

At this point just be glad they will even make the convertible. The Z28 may never see the light of day. We are lucky the Camaro survived the storm. I hope these come out for those waiting but as we all know things can change quickly. At least I have my SS. Now on to modding it.

[DDA_Skull]

Oh man. I need a Convertable too.

[DDA_Skull]

The Z28 will get built. Just like they were saying to try and keep people intrested in the 5th gen they will have to do something nice. Or else they need to redesign it. And i'm not sure how they can improve on this, cause honestly that is B E A UTIFUL.

[fireresq157]

Originally Posted by pony

Thanks for the news find. However, I did find the one statement discouraging for those of us waiting this long already. Now a potential 6 month kick in the

I just don't know how much longer I can hold out.

Seing how long it took them with the coupe I deceided not to wait. I kept dreaming they would come out at the same time, but figured GM would go with the correct buissness option. Once they announced the second delay for the convertible that was it for me, back then the coupe was still a few months away. I've been driving my car since July and it looks like another year and a half for the vert and even then there is nothing in stone.

[Bonemaro]

Well at least there's still the option to chop off your top. Costly... sure, but how bad do ya want it?

[pony]

Originally Posted by fireresq157

Seing how long it took them with the coupe I deceided not to wait. I kept dreaming they would come out at the same time, but figured GM would go with the correct buissness option. Once they announced the second delay for the convertible that was it for me, back then the coupe was still a few months away. I've been driving my car since July and it looks like another year and a half for the vert and even then there is nothing in stone.

GM has been very quiet about the vert. Maybe these non-GM "leaks" about delays are about breaking some of our resolve and "forcing" us into buying the coupe. Then the sneaky lil turds will "pop" out the vert--""SURPRISE"--hoping we'll buy that too.

The Z28 fans are experiencing even move doubts about their dream car and speculation is also similar; GM wants to sell more coupes to the holdouts, hoping they will buy instead of waiting on a "possible" Z model

And then again, maybe it's just honest SOP with supplier delays, production issues, etc.

I wish we could just get a little more official news (or even unofficial news from those C5 members in the know--YOU KNOW who you are)

[pony]

Originally Posted by Bonemaro

Well at least there's still the option to chop off your top. Costly... sure, but how bad do ya want it?

I've seen THOSE options..NO thanks

[MacTruck]

Oh boy, looks like I'm trading mine in for a raggy next year. Hope the HUD is ready by then.

[2010 SSRS]

Will the SS Vert have a factory roll bar.