Chevrolet will strengthen its global growth strategy with the introduction of a new range of small, compact and midsize vehicles in the UK and throughout Europe, beginning in January 2005.

Initially the product will be developed for Europe by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Company Ltd (GM DAT) in South Korea but over time additional models will be introduced from other facilities within GM's worldwide manufacturing network. This reflects GM’s strategy to increasingly position Chevrolet as its affordable entry brand for developed markets and a volume mainstream brand for emerging markets.

Chevrolet cars built by GM DAT are already sold in several markets in Central and Eastern Europe, in North and South America, in several Asian markets and South Africa.  Sales of these Chevrolet cars have exceeded expectations.  Ongoing investments in the South Korean operations of 1.5 billion US Dollars underline GM’s confidence in GM DAT’s design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.  At the Paris Motor Show, the S3X show car will offer a preview of possible style cues for future Chevrolet models.

The new Chevrolet Europe organisation is formed from the current European GM Daewoo infrastructure and will be responsible for the launch and subsequent sale of Chevrolet cars.  Chevrolet will offer its customers a pan-European network of over 1800 outlets.  Chevrolet UK will develop the existing GM Daewoo network to over 100 by the middle of 2005.  New Chevrolet (and existing Daewoo) owners in the UK will enjoy the same terms of three-year warranty, three-year free service and three-year roadside assistance and Daewoo vehicles will be serviced at the same retailers and authorised repairers as the new Chevrolet line-up.  The new Chevrolet Europe will align its activities with the overall GM Europe Sales, Marketing & Aftersales organisation.

Jonathan Browning, GM Europe Vice President of Sales, Aftersales & Marketing said: “Chevrolet has a global presence in more than 70 countries with sales last year of over 3.6 million vehicles. The new range of Chevrolet cars will provide the affordable entry brand in GM’s new European product strategy as we move forward with Opel/Vauxhall supported by Saab, Corvette and Cadillac.”