Chevrolet Cruze Leads Compact Car Sales for May

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For the first time in five years, an American car is the best selling compact car in the United States. The Chevrolet Cruze recorded 22,711 segment-topping sales in May, and achieved its second consecutive appearance on the Top 10 across all U.S. auto segments.

The Cruze also has helped Chevrolet gain share in the compact segment – which represented 16 percent of total U.S. sales in May – and accelerated the brand's shift to fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines.

In May, fuel-efficient models four-cylinder vehicles – including Cruze, Equinox, and Malibu – accounted for 51 percent of Chevrolet retail sales. That is up from 36 percent in May a year ago, and doubles the rate of four-cylinder sales five years ago.

"The launch of the Cruze has exceeded all of our expectations," said Alan Batey, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Sales and Service. "Cruze launched as a brand-new vehicle, with a brand-new name, in one of the most competitive segments in the industry.

"Today, consumer consideration for the Cruze has increased to the point that it is on many of the same shopping lists as established compact cars, like Civic and Corolla," he said. "This is an incredible accomplishment, even considering the industry's disruptions caused by the tragedy in Japan."

Cruze trails only the Honda Civic in sales for the 2011 calendar year with 98,076 Cruze sold as opposed to 110,086 Civics sold.