Chevrolet New Sail Sedan Debuts, Pitched at Emerging Markets

SHANGHAI, China — The 2010 Detroit Auto Show wasn't the only place hopping with new General Motors products on Monday. Shanghai GM introduced the Chevrolet New Sail, saying that the car was developed with "Chinese driving habits" in mind and with an eye for consumers in emerging markets.

The five-passenger Chevrolet New Sail will start at around the equivalent of $8,800 and go on sale in China and other emerging markets. The new small car was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, both GM-SAIC joint ventures. Five variants of the New Sail will be available. It will be offered with a 1.2-liter or 1.4-liter engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Cabin details include a radio, CD player and MP3 interface.

"Several years ago, Shanghai GM made the strategic decision to broaden our customer base by developing the New Sail," said Ding Lei, Shanghai GM president, in a statement. "We now have an entry in every major passenger-car segment."

Inside Line says: GM continues to beef up its offerings in China and show its commitment to this growing market. It's no accident that this announcement was timed to coincide with the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent