Photo: Chevrolet
As if Chevrolet didn’t have a hard time selling the Camaro, the pony car has taken another blow for the 2021 model year. More to the point, legislation concerning the brake pads forced the biggest of the Big Three in Detroit to stop orders for the SS and ZL1 in California and Washington.
Long story short, the year was 2010 when Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 346. Also known as the California Motor Vehicle Brake Friction Material Law, this piece of legislation bans pads containing more than 5% copper as well as asbestos and heavy metals.
Speaking to GM Authority, communications officer Kevin M. Kelly confirmed that deliveries of the SS and ZL1 would come to a grinding halt on January 1st. “Customers can, however, purchase these models from available dealer stock in those states.” Kelly has added that new pads that are compliant with the copper requirement will be introduced in 2022.
Even though General Motors didn’t mention it specifically, Brembo is the supplier of the performance-oriented brakes that can’t be sold in Cali and WA. Known under RPO codes J55, J6G, and J6H, these babies are joined by the RPO code JL9 standard brakes manufactured by Centric Parts.
The Camaro won’t have it easy after 2022, either. Multiple sources with knowledge of the product plans are suggesting that “2023 is as far as the Camaro is charted out, then nothing.” General Motors didn’t confirm or deny this report, but I’m not holding my breath for a seventh generation.
GM is in the middle of a business transformation focused on EVs and autonomous driving technologies, two areas that require a lot of money for research and development. Imagine the Golden Bowtie spending millions over millions of dollars on the Gen 7 only to lose that money over poor sales. As much as I love the ‘Maro, the beancounters have sealed its fate.
Moving forward, Ford and Fiat Chrysler won’t bid farewell to the Mustang and Challenger, respectively. Both of them are up for some tasty makeovers that include hybridized transmissions and probably a hybridized V8.
Speaking to GM Authority, communications officer Kevin M. Kelly confirmed that deliveries of the SS and ZL1 would come to a grinding halt on January 1st. “Customers can, however, purchase these models from available dealer stock in those states.” Kelly has added that new pads that are compliant with the copper requirement will be introduced in 2022.
Even though General Motors didn’t mention it specifically, Brembo is the supplier of the performance-oriented brakes that can’t be sold in Cali and WA. Known under RPO codes J55, J6G, and J6H, these babies are joined by the RPO code JL9 standard brakes manufactured by Centric Parts.
The Camaro won’t have it easy after 2022, either. Multiple sources with knowledge of the product plans are suggesting that “2023 is as far as the Camaro is charted out, then nothing.” General Motors didn’t confirm or deny this report, but I’m not holding my breath for a seventh generation.
GM is in the middle of a business transformation focused on EVs and autonomous driving technologies, two areas that require a lot of money for research and development. Imagine the Golden Bowtie spending millions over millions of dollars on the Gen 7 only to lose that money over poor sales. As much as I love the ‘Maro, the beancounters have sealed its fate.
Moving forward, Ford and Fiat Chrysler won’t bid farewell to the Mustang and Challenger, respectively. Both of them are up for some tasty makeovers that include hybridized transmissions and probably a hybridized V8.
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