Its new Volt range extended model may be the talk of the automotive world, but Chevrolet has managed to break its global sales record on the strength of the other members of its fleet.
The company sold 2.35million vehicles globally during the first six months of 2011 – the best half-year performance in its 100 year history. It sold 286,499 vehicles – an increase of 14 per cent compared to the previous year as it set sales records in countries such asArgentina,Brazil,Chile,China,Colombia,Denmark,Ecuador,France,South AfricaandTurkey.
In addition, it enjoyed sales gains in all of its top five markets: theUS, up 16 per cent;Brazilup 0.4 per cent over its best-ever sales pace set in 2010;Chinaup 15 per cent;Russiaup 54 per cent; andCanada, where sales grew eight per cent.
Much of the global growth was due to a wave of new models – including the Chevrolet Cruze, the Chevrolet Spark and the all-new Aveo/Sonic small car and Orlando MPV.
Chevrolet actually sold more than 330,000 Cruze vehicles worldwide during the first half of 2011 – that’s a 132 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Indeed since being introduced in 2009, the Cruze has sold more than 800,000 units worldwide and is on track to exceed more than one million by the end of 2012.
