Chevrolet sells its 3 millionth Cruze globally

The Chevrolet Cruze has officially sold 3 million units around the world this month, just 16 months after selling its 2 millionth model, with more than 30,000 sold in Southeast Asia including Thailand. The sedan is the brand’s best-selling nameplate.

General Motors builds the sedan at 11 plants worldwide, including its Thai assembly plant in Rayong, and sells it in 118 countries, including Thailand and in India at the Talegaon plant.

The Cruze is manufactured in the USA, Brazil, Russia, China, South Korea and Australia markets while it takes shape from CKD (completely knocked down) kits in India, Thailand, Vietname and Venezuela. In Kazakhstan, it is from SKD (semi knocked down) kits.

In Thailand, Cruze’s 1.8-litre ECOTEC powertrain, updated with flex-fuel (E85) capability, runs on any form of petrol, from pure petrol to fuel with up to 85 percent ethanol. The use of E85 produces less carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene and butadiene emissions.

“The Cruze is an extremely adaptable car that can cater to the demands of nearly every market in the world,” said Alan Batey, GM executive vice president of Global Chevrolet. “It is a testament to Chevrolet’s global focus and capabilities to offer a car that is so highly regarded in so many places.”

The Cruze is built in 11 different countries on five continents. GM design teams in South Korea and Germany had the global consumer in mind when developing the car in just 27 months in the late 2000s before debuting in South Korea in November of 2008.

“Small car sales around the world have been growing exponentially as emerging markets, in Asia and South America, increase car ownership while mature markets, like the U.S., downsize for fuel economy,” says Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com. “Small cars, like the Cruze, are driving sales globally and will continue to do so.”

The Cruze endured intensive durability testing, including extreme weather tests and more than 210 crash tests tailored to the regulatory demands of the countries where it is sold.  

To appeal to the different markets’ tastes, the Cruze is available in in three body styles, including a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and station wagon. Cruze is powered by five different engines, 1.4-, 1.6-, and 1.8-liter petrol engines, and 1.7- and 2-litre diesel engines.

Chevrolet recently launched a new version of the Cruze catering to the styling and packaging demands of Chinese customers. Cruze sales in China lead all countries with 1.13 million sold since launch in 2009.

Photograph: The Chevrolet Cruze has officially sold 3 million units around the world this month, just 16 months after selling its 2 millionth model, with more than 30,000 sold in Southeast Asia including Thailand. The compact car is the brand’s best-selling nameplate.