Where did Chevy SS originate from?
The Chevy SS originated in Australia, developed and built by GM's Holden subsidiary, and was sold in the United States as a Chevrolet from 2014 to 2017.
It represents a badge-engineered edition of the Holden Commodore VF sedan, created to bring a true rear‑wheel‑drive V8 performance car to the American market. The program used Holden's Australian facilities to produce the vehicle, which was then marketed in the U.S. under the Chevrolet banner.
Origins: How the Chevy SS came to be
Key facts about the car’s origin and manufacturing
- Based on the Holden Commodore VF sedan, a rear‑wheel‑drive platform developed by GM's Holden division in Australia.
- Built in Holden's facilities in Australia (notably in South Australia) and exported to the United States for Chevrolet branding.
- Unveiled in 2013 as a concept for the U.S. market and released as the 2014 model year; production continued through the 2017 model year.
- Powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing about 415 horsepower, paired with a six‑speed automatic transmission (no manual option in the U.S. market).
- SS stands for Super Sport, aligning with Chevrolet’s performance badge lineage.
These facts illustrate the cross‑continental creation story: an Australian‑built performance sedan adapted for American buyers by Chevrolet, using Holden’s VF Commodore platform, before GM scaled back Holden exports to the U.S. market.
Context and impact
In the broader GM panorama, the Chevy SS marked a rare instance of U.S. sales derived from an Australian factory. It showcased GM’s global platform strategy and badge engineering, leveraging Holden’s engineering to fill a gap for a genuine V8 rear‑drive sedan in America. The program ended after 2017 as GM reorganized its international operations and ceased Holden exports to the United States.
Summary
The Chevy SS originated in Australia, developed by GM's Holden division, and marketed in the United States as Chevrolet from 2014 to 2017. Its roots lie in the Holden Commodore VF platform, assembled by Holden in Australia and exported for the U.S. market. This model stands as a notable example of GM's global collaboration and badge engineering during that era.
