July 16, 2013

© General Motors

Chevrolet Delivers 

Record Global Sales in First Half of 2013

·         More than 1.3 million units sold in best-ever second quarter

·         Small car lineup attracting new U.S. customers; sales up nearly 25 percent over 2012

·         GM sales up nearly 4 percent in the first six months of the year

DETROIT – Chevrolet sold a record 2.5 million vehicles around the world in the first six months of 2013, up 1.4 percent over the same period in 2012, and achieved its 11^th straight quarter of increased sales on the strength of new products like the Onix subcompact car in Brazil, Impala full-size sedan in the U.S. and Colorado midsize pickup in Southeast Asia.

Overall, General Motors Co. posted sales of more than 4.85 million vehicles in the first half of 2013, an increase of nearly 4 percent over the same period in 2012.

“Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive new product roll-out in the brand’s history,” said Alan Batey, senior vice president of Global Chevrolet. “The continued sales growth around the world is a result of a focused effort to strengthen Chevrolet’s presence in developing markets as well as its relationship with consumers by offering the right products, technologies, and world-class customer service.”

In the U.S., Chevrolet’s small car lineup continues to attract new customers to the brand. Sales of the Sonic, Spark, Cruze and Volt combined were up nearly 25 percent in the first half of 2013.  Full-size truck sales also increased 23 percent over the same period and dealers are delivering the all-new Silverado to eager consumers at a rapid pace, averaging only 10 days on dealer lots.

Chevrolet sales in China rose 6.1 percent to nearly 322,000 units, fueled by strong sales of the Sail, Cruze, Malibu and Captiva.

The top five Chevrolet sales markets in the first six months of 2013 were:

Market	First Half of 2013	% Change
United States	1.02 million	5.6
China	322,000	6.1
Brazil	305,000	5.1
Mexico	91,000	15.7
Russia	80,200	(16.1)

GM first half 2013 sales in North America were up nearly 8 percent and nearly 7 percent throughout its International Operations. GM achieved a sales record in China with a 10.6 percent increase to 1,567,392 units.

General Motors Global Sales Summary:

	Units 2013	Units 2012	% Change		% of Industry 2013	% of Industry 2012
North America	1,641,717	1,524,495	7.7		17.2	17.0
Europe	797,333	853,059	(6.5)		8.4	8.5
South America	496,719	501,510	(1.0)		17.2	18.2
International Operations*	1,917,079	1,790,853	7.0		9.4	9.3
Total Global	4,852,848	4,669,917	3.9		11.5	11.4

GM North America = United States, Canada, Mexico and other North American markets

GM in Europe = Western, Central and Eastern Europe plus Russia/ CIS

GM International Operations = Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East

* Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan are excluded from sales volume and market share calculations

2013 Year End Corvette Production Numbers

Follow this link to see the production numbers for the 2013 model year Corvette:

http://vettevues.com/corvette_information/corvette_facts/2013_corvette/2013CorvetteStats.pdf

2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 © General Motors

The 505-hp (337 kW) 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible is the fastest, most-capable convertible in Corvette's history, and is available in all colors, including the white-over-blue 60th Anniversary package that commemorates Corvette's debut in January, 1953.

Chevrolet Unveils 2014 Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

Chevrolet Unveils 2014 Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

Premiere Edition Stingray Corvette reveal

Haartz tops the Iconic Corvette Stingray

The soft-top version of the Corvette Stingray was unveiled during the 
Geneva Motor Show

Acton, Mass. (March 07, 2013) – The Haartz Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of soft top convertible material, announced today it is supplying the convertible topping for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. After the dramatic unveiling of the Corvette Stingray at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, the soft-top version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.  It is expected to arrive in dealerships later this year.

The Corvette Stingray convertible top is made with Haartz’s acoustically enhanced three-ply composite material layered with an acrylic twill weave outer fabric, a rubber inner layer and a polyester lining fabric.  This unique material composition is designed to endure all temperature variations and weather conditions and allows drivers to enjoy a truly all-season vehicle.

“With the warm welcome the hard-top version received in Detroit, Haartz is excited to be involved new model of the Corvette bearing the iconic Stingray name,” said Matt Williams, director of business development.  “We consider our work with Chevrolet on the Corvette to be leading edge, always trying to increase the performance level Chevrolet offers with every convertible.“

Haartz convertible toppings are engineered to dispel the misconceptions of soft top convertibles. Combining the latest in textile and plastics technology, Haartz materials offer benefits on par with both coupes and retractable hard tops including all-season driving and superior acoustical and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance, as well as optimized trunk space when the top is down.

A full-range of customizable laminates allows Haartz to meet the strictest OEM specifications and design targets with lower-cost engineering and manufacturing compared to retractable hardtop designs. Haartz laminates give the automaker the ability to maintain the distinctive appearance of open-air vehicles, top up or down.

About The Haartz Corporation

The Haartz Corporation (Haartz) is the leading manufacturer of convertible topping for automakers across the globe. In addition to convertible and sport-utility topping, Haartz supplies automotive exterior trim including laminates for truck tonneau covers, tire- and nose-covers, and the recently introduced DefenZall™ paint protection film. Haartz also offers a full portfolio of automotive interior trim including moldable coverstocks for door panels, instrument panels and console lids, along with a line of artificial leather for seating, door panel and shift-boot applications.

Haartz has been a trusted automotive supplier since 1907, and continues to be privately owned and operated by the Haartz family. The company’s headquarters in Acton, Mass., is also home to its North American manufacturing operations. Along with European manufacturing in Mannheim, Germany, Haartz maintains a global presence with sales offices in Detroit, Munich, Tokyo, Delhi and Beijing, employing 400 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.haartz.com.

SANLUIS Rassini Two-Piece Rotor Chosen for 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Industry’s First Ductile Iron-Gray Iron Rotor Design Offers Up to 18 Percent Weight Savings, Higher Performance


PLYMOUTH, Mich., February 27, 2013 – SANLUIS Rassini, a leading automotive supplier of suspension and brake components in North America, was selected by the Chevrolet Corvette engineering team for its unique two-piece rotor design, which offers significant weight savings and extreme performance at high speeds.

Rassini’s Automotive team has produced the industry’s first-ever rotor with a ductile iron hat and gray iron brake plates for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which makes its debut this summer. The unique combination of ductile and cast iron provides a weight savings of up to 18 percent while also improving the Corvette’s heat management capabilities, giving the sports car reliable and consistent stopping power.

A component of the Corvette Stingray Z51 Performance Package, the Rassini dual-cast braking system affords confident stopping power to the 6.2-liter engine that powers the Stingray from 0 – 60 mph in less than four seconds.

The rotor features an I-Beam extension design instead of a solid extension design. It is the only composite rotor on the market that can accommodate a drum in hat, a rotor design in which the internal surface of the hat serves as a brake drum.

“By optimizing both the design and the materials used in the rotor, we are able to achieve weight savings and performance improvements that were not attainable before,” said Eugenio Madero, CEO, SANLUIS Rassini North America. “This technology was developed for high-performance vehicles like the 2014 Corvette that require better heat transfer capabilities at lighter weights.”

Incorporating the I-Beam design increases air flow through the vent passage for better thermal heat transfer. The use of the stronger ductile iron in the hat allows Rassini engineers to use thinner sections of material while maintaining structural performance. The use of the center connection to the hat optimizes air flow throughout the system, dissipating heat more effectively and minimizing the stress traditionally present in a conventional full-cast design.

The manufacturing process for the rotor is contained within SANLUIS Rassini’s manufacturing facility, as it is the only supplier in the Americas industry with a fully integrated brake rotor facility. The company’s facility in Puebla, Mexico, features an integrated foundry and features machining, coating, stress relief and FNC (Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing) processes.

“We offer a unique combination of competencies in raw materials and can provide our customers with complete solutions,” said Madero.

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