 With figures for almost every car manufacturer reporting huge sales falls as the industry battles the global economic crisis, even comparatively small growth is worth celebrating.
That is the case for General Motors’ brand Chevrolet, which has broken its sales record in the UK. Its brand of Daewoo-derived small cars including the redesigned Aveo and the Matiz prompted a sales record of 18,372 throughout 2008. That’s only 16 units higher than in 2007. However, given the credit crunch and the way the motoring industry has slumped as a consequence, it can be seen as a huge achievement.
Chevrolet has been boosted by the introduction of the Epica, which has helped to boost sales. Indeed it’s not just in the UK where Chevrolet has received a boost – it has also set its own record for sales throughout Europe, surpassing 500,000 last year.
So what is the reason for its success? According to a member of its marketing team it is a reputation for ‘astounding value and durable high quality cars’. It seems that when car buyers are struggling for cash the solution is smaller, more affordable vehicles that offer greater fuel efficiency as they keep one eye on their motoring costs.
