Daewoo Motor Remapping Its U.S. Plans . . .

South Korean auto maker Daewoo Motor Co.’s plans for its U.S. sales launch still is shrouded in mystery--the company shuns interviews and doesn’t announce its moves in advance. But insiders say the company is completely redrawing plans that once called for it to set up four separate regional operating units.

Now, it is likely that a consolidated U.S. headquarters will be set up either in Orange County--where Korean car makers Hyundai and Kia already are located--or in the South Bay area near Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

One indication that Daewoo is not abandoning the U.S. in the midst of all the economic problems back home showed up in Huntington Beach last week: A big sign on a formerly vacant lot on Beach Boulevard proclaims that construction is underway for the future home of one of Daewoo’s company-owned dealerships.

John O’Dell covers major Orange County corporations and manufacturing for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at john.odell@latimes.com