DETROIT, January 13 /PRNewswire/ --
For the second consecutive year, a car from General Motors Corporation
has taken top honors in the North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY)
awards, as announced today at the opening of the North American International
Auto Show.
The Chevrolet Malibu was chosen by this year's media jury from a field of
15 cars and 13 trucks. GM vehicles captured four of the final six candidate
spots for the awards; last year the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Silverado were
winners.
"This award is the result of our intensive efforts to put a renewed
emphasis on design, execution and craftsmanship into our cars and trucks,"
said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman. "We're honored that both automotive
journalists and consumers are recognizing our efforts. The fact we had four
of the six finalist vehicles is more than we could have hoped for."
The NACTOY awards are given annually by prominent automotive journalists
who evaluate the vehicles on factors including value for the dollar,
innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction. This
year's jury consisted of 45 automotive journalists from throughout the United
States and Canada.
The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu delivers strong performance, fuel economy and
refinement, wrapped in Chevrolet's global signature design. A broad range of
detailed, well-appointed and efficient models is offered, including a
fuel-saving Malibu Hybrid model. Sales of the new Malibu began last November.
"Our goal with the 2008 Malibu was to give customers a stylish,
uncompromising package that can challenge even the most formidable
competitors in the midsize segment," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general
manager. "Customers are getting that message, because the new Malibus are
selling faster than we can put them on dealers' lots."
Starting at US$19,995 in the U.S., the Malibu had a 99-percent increase
in retail sales this past December. The 2008 Malibu was designed and
engineered for sale not only in the U.S., but also in Canada, Mexico, Israel
and the Caymen Islands.
Other 2008 Model Awards for Malibu:
In early December, Car and Driver magazine published its "10 Best Cars"
for 2008, and the Malibu, along with the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Corvette,
all made the list. The Malibu was also chosen by Kelley Blue Book as "Best
Redesigned Vehicle for 2008."
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is one of America's best-known and best-selling automotive
brands. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the
leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced
US$35,000 and above. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance
and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive
vehicles. In the first nine months of 2007, sales of Chevrolet models around
the world were up 3.2 percent. The Chevrolet brand grew by 17.3 percent in
Asia-Pacific, 31.6 percent in Europe and 24 percent n Latin America, Africa
and the Middle East. Chevrolet vehicles are sold in 133 countries. More
information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
NACOTY Juror Quotes about the Chevrolet Malibu:
Matt DeLorenzo, Road & Track: "Fresh new styling, high quality materials
and a silky smooth drivetrain give this family car the feel of an entry level
luxury car. The 6-speed automatic and V-6 power are standouts."
Michelle Krebs, Freelance: "The Chevrolet Malibu sets a new standard for
the mid-size class."
Gary Witzenburg, Freelance: "This fine, affordable beauty brings
Chevrolet - and General Motors - back big time into the volume mid-size sedan
game. It's easily as good as anything near its price, and better than most."
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been
the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM
today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters
in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006,
nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following
brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel,
Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the
industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More
information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Web site: http://media.gm.com
http://www.gm.com
General Motors Corporation