Production of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze was marked today with red, white and blue models that, General Motors said, symbolically “declared that a world-class small car can be assembled in America by a domestic company”.
The first vehicles for delivery to buyers were driven off the line at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio plant in front of GM employees, dignitaries, union representatives and community members.
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The Cruze is already Chevrolet’s top-selling car worldwide this year, with more than 165,000 sold, and second only to the Silverado full-size pickup for all Chevrolet vehicles – even before sales begin this month in the United States.
General Motors North America president Mark Reuss said: “We are working to redefine the views on a domestic carmaker building such a car here in the United States.”
Chevrolet is claiming class-leading standard safety features, expected class-leading fuel economy and more standard equipment than competitive vehicles such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla which are also built in North America, albeit by foreign owned companies.
The Lordstown Complex, which built its first car in 1966, has produced more than 14mn vehicles, making it one of the most productive automotive facilities in the world.
Cruze shipments to US and Canadian dealers start next week.
