Daewoo Motor America entered the United States car market in the late 1990s with three models: the Leganza, Lanos, and Nubira. Today, we will take a closer look at a 2002 Nubira SE sedan discovered in a Northern California junkyard.
Before introducing these models, Daewoo Motor America’s first car in the US was the Pontiac LeMans from 1988 to 1993. However, the company faced challenges when its CEO, Kim Woo-choong, fled Korea to escape fraud charges. Despite this, the cars were attractively priced, with the 2002 Nubira SE sedan priced at just $11,699, making it a more affordable option compared to other cars on the market at the time.
The Nubira was available as both a sedan and a wagon, with this particular model featuring a four-speed automatic transmission and optional air conditioning. Under the hood, it housed a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 129 horsepower.
Despite Daewoo’s bankruptcy in 2000, the company continued to operate, and GM eventually took over its car-building operations. This 2002 Nubira SE sedan did not accumulate high mileage during its lifetime, a common trend among junked Daewoo vehicles.
Following the end of Daewoo-badged cars in the US, American consumers still had access to similar vehicles under different branding. The Lanos was rebranded as the Chevrolet Aveo, the Nubira became the Suzuki Reno, and the Leganza was reintroduced as the Suzuki Verona.
In the world of automotive transformations, the legacy of Daewoo vehicles lived on through these rebadged models, offering consumers familiar options under new names. Despite the challenges faced by the company, the affordability and features of the 2002 Nubira SE sedan make it a noteworthy addition to the automotive landscape of its time.