Chevrolet Achieves Best-Ever Global Sales in 2011

Thu, Jan 19 2012

DETROIT – Chevrolet sold 4.76 million vehicles around the world in 2011, setting a global sales record and driving General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) global sales to more than 9 million vehicles, a 7.6 percent gain compared with 2010.

GM gained four-tenths of a point of market share to 11.9 percent of the global vehicle industry. Sales were up in all four reporting regions – North America, South America, Europe and International Operations – as GM sold a total of 9,025,942 vehicles compared with 8,385,484 in 2010.

The United States led the way for Chevrolet with total vehicle sales of 1,775,812, up more than 13 percent from 2010. China posted record sales of 595,068, up 9.5 percent from the previous year. Other markets that posted significant year-over-year increases include Vietnam (79 percent), Russia (49 percent), Turkey (30 percent) and Germany (21 percent).

“ Chevrolet’s impressive growth in both established and developing markets is the result of a strong new product lineup that meets the diverse needs of consumers around the world,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. “In addition to Chevrolet’s record-setting sales, the entire lineup of GM vehicles is meeting customer needs for fuel-efficient cars and work vehicles as well as unmatched luxury.”

Chevrolet is building its global presence by delivering cars like the Cruze, Sonic (Aveo) and Spark, the all-new midsize global Malibu, and crossovers and trucks like the Orlando and Colorado that are designed for the varied driving conditions and customer preferences around the world.

The Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan led the brand with global sales of more than 670,000 in 2011, making it the best-selling Chevrolet nameplate around the world with more than 1.13 million sold since its launch in 2009. In the United States, Chevrolet was the best selling passenger car brand in 2011, thanks in large part to the success of the Cruze.

More than 15 markets experienced record Chevrolet sales in 2011 with the largest year-over-year increases in Peru (81 percent), Vietnam (79 percent), Thailand (57 percent), South Africa (50 percent) and Israel (46 percent). The top 10 Chevrolet sales markets in 2011 were:

Market Total 2011 Sales
United States 1,775,812
Brazil 632,201
China 595,068
Russia 173,485
Mexico 162,461
Canada 150,540
Argentina 133,491
Uzbekistan 121,584
India 111,056
Colombia 105,783

“Without doubt the new Chevrolet portfolio has been a catalyst for our success around the world,” said Tim Lee, president of GM International Operations. “The launch of the Chevrolet brand in South Korea along with tremendous growth in China and across the rest of our international operations is proof that Chevrolet is becoming a first choice for customers around the globe.”

As Chevrolet enters its second century, it continues to become a more global brand, with more than 60 percent of its sales outside the U.S. market.

“In 2012, we will continue to expand our range with even more great vehicles as we pursue further growth in our key markets,” Lee said.

On a corporate basis, GM’s two largest markets in 2011 were China, where GM and its joint venture partners increased sales 8.3 percent year over year to 2,547,203 vehicles, and the United States, where GM sold 2,503,820 vehicles, up 13.0 percent compared with 2010. GM is the market leader in both countries.

General Motors Global Sales Summary

Units

2011

Units

2010

% Change

% of Industry

2011

% of Industry

2010

Point Change

North America

2,924,140

2,625,411

11.4

18.4

18.2

0.2

Europe

1,735,335

1,662,963

4.4

8.8

8.8

0.0

South America

1,064,631

1,024,960

3.9

18.8

19.9

(1.1)

International Operations

3,301,836

3,072,150

7.5

9.5

8.9

0.6

Total Global

9,025,942

8,385,484

7.6

11.9

11.5

0.4

GM North America = United States, Canada, Mexico and other North American markets
GM in Europe = Western, Central and Eastern Europe plus Russia
GM International Operations = Asia-Pacific, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East
Note: Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan are excluded from sales volume and market share calculations

[Source: GM Media]


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(Family Features) High gas prices and an uncertain economy are putting vehicle fuel efficiency at the top of many drivers’ priority lists. A 2011 survey by Consumer Reports found that 62 percent of those surveyed are planning on making their next car much more fuel efficient. But what if a new vehicle isn’t in your budget? Take heart – there are steps you can take now that can help increase fuel efficiency in what you’re driving today.

John and Helen Taylor, known as the world’s most fuel efficient couple, hold 89 world records and travel the world stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiency, are here to help others do the same. The Taylors say that by simply following the MAP to Smarter Driving, drivers can become more fuel efficient and do it on a budget. The MAP includes:

Maintenance

Perform smart maintenance before you drive, including:

  • Make sure tires are not over- or under-inflated. Proper air pressure cuts down on fuel used while driving. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by more than 3 percent.
  • Keep your engine well tuned and repair problems immediately. If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent, on average.
John and Helen Taylor set a new fuel efficiency record for the 48 contiguous states this summer by achieving 64.42 mpg using only Shell gasoline in an unmodified vehicle.

Actions

Practice smart actions and behaviors while you’re behind the wheel:

  • Avoid the highs and find the lows. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gasoline mileage by five percent at lower speeds and by 33 percent at highway speeds. You should assume that each five mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.29 per gallon for gas (savings based on an assumed fuel price of $3.65 per gallon).
  • Also, avoid idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon.

Products

Purchase smart products at the right price without sacrificing quality:

  • Choose a high-quality gasoline. Lower-quality gasolines can leave harmful carbon deposits or “gunk,” which can build up on intake valves and fuel injectors. This negatively impacts engine performance, vehicle responsiveness and reduction of fuel flow – all potentially leading to reduced fuel economy.
  • Use a loyalty or rewards payment card to save. The Taylors suggest stretching your budget. Shell has teamed up with leading grocers in more than 110 markets across the U.S. where you can earn rewards for using your existing supermarket loyalty card and then redeem the points at participating Shell stations. Another option is to use a Shell payment card that saves you money at more than 14,000 Shell stations across the U.S.

Smarter Driving can go a long way to help you stretch your budget while helping protect your vehicle. To find out more about the Shell Smarter Driving Program or to test your Smarter Driving IQ, visit www.Shell.us/smarterdriving, or find Shell at www.facebook.com/shellontheroad.

(Some tips sourced from www.fueleconomy.gov.)

Fuel Efficiency Myths

  • Gadgets can improve gas mileage. Be wary of any devices that say they can get you better mileage. The EPA has found that very few provide any fuel economy benefits – and some may even damage the engine or increase exhaust emissions. For a list of tested products, visit www.epa.gov.
  • Replacing the engine air filter improves fuel efficiency. For older cars with carburetors, this can be true. But today’s fuel-injected engines have the fuel-air mixture adjusted by computers. Changing a dirty air filter might improve engine performance, but it won’t affect fuel economy.
  • It’s more fuel-efficient to turn on the AC and close the windows. Rolling down your windows can cause an increase in your fuel consumption if you attempt to drive the same speed because of the drag from the wind. Yet, it is important to note that air conditioning can also put added strain on the engine by using fuel to operate. So, whenever possible use the fan instead.

SOURCE:
Shell

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