Chevrolets Next-Generation Malibu to be Sold in Nearly 100 Countries on Six Continents
DETROIT/SHANGHAI The all-new Malibu will transcend time zones and embrace the diversity of cultures around the world when Chevrolet simultaneously unveils it live at the Shanghai Auto Show and on Chevrolets Facebook page.
Chevrolet provided a sneak peak glimpse today of its Malibu show car. Chevrolet will unveil the new Malibu live starting at 8:30 p.m. EDT on April 18 at http://www.facebook.com/chevrolet. The Web reveal will also be streamed live on iPad and iPhone mobile devices. Consumers are encouraged to post questions during the reveal on Twitter using #MalibuReveal or on Chevrolets Facebook page in the Malibu tab. Members of the Chevrolet team will be on hand to answer questions during a live moderated question and answer session following the web reveal.
The timing of the Web reveal coincides with the April 19 auto show debut of the new Malibu in Shanghai. The Malibu show car will also be shown at the New York International Auto Show, which is open to the public April 23 through May 1.
This Malibu takes Chevrolets established and award-winning nameplate to new places and introduces it to new audiences around the world, said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet. Whether the Malibu is sold in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia, it has been engineered from the ground up to meet the needs of customers around the world.
The Malibu will feature a global family of fuel-efficient and powerful four-cylinder engines, along with six-speed transmissions that also contribute to efficient performance. The Malibu was designed to stand out in all markets around the globe, while its European-inspired driving characteristics were engineered to challenge the best in its class. The new Malibu is Chevrolets first midsized car to be sold globally. It will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents and built in multiple locations, including China and two facilities in the United States.
“We look forward to offering the new Malibu to Canadian customers,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM Canada. “The Malibu further builds on the transformation underway at Chevrolet, aiming to deliver a winning combination of dynamic styling, superior handling, and outstanding fuel-efficiency.”
The Malibu was the only midsize car in the industry to win the Consumers Digest Automotive Best Buy award the last three years 2011, 2010, 2009. The Malibu has also been named the Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety the last two years in the US.
With the new Malibu, Chevrolet continues to position itself for worldwide growth. General Motors largest brand is in the midst of introducing a global family of fuel-efficient cars including the Cruze, Volt, Sonic, Spark and Malibu. These new cars compete in the four largest vehicle segments in the world, which accounted for 54 percent of all non-luxury sales in 2010. The global segment that Malibu will compete in represented 9 percent more than 5.7 million vehicles of global sales in 2010.
Last year, Chevrolet sold 4.26 million vehicles globally, or an average of one vehicle every 7.4 seconds. Eight of the top 10selling markets for Chevrolet in 2010 were emerging markets Brazil, China, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Russia, India, Argentina and Colombia. Emerging Markets are expected to account for more than 50 percent of Chevrolet global sales by 2012.
More than 600,000 Malibu cars have been sold globally since 2008, when it was named the North American Car of the Year. The 2013 Malibu represents the eighth generation of the nameplate, which was introduced in 1964.
About Chevrolet in Canada
Founded in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. From todays Cruze Eco which consumes just 4.6 L/100 km on the highway to the Volt coming this fall, which provides up to 80 kilometres of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 500 kilometres of extended range, Chevrolet offers gas-friendly to gas-free solutions. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse and a host of new, smaller, highly efficient models to come including the all-new Orlando and Sonic (fall 2011) and Spark (2012). Chevrolet also provides iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro as well as dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.ca or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chevroletcanada.
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