Chevrolet celebrates 100 years of iconic cars

31.10.2011

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To commemorate its centenary, Chevrolet is launching the Volt electric car, donating 100 cars to help children in need, and commissioning a contemporary sculpture for Louis Chevrolet's home town.

To mark its centenary, Chevrolet is bringing to Europe the award-winning Volt, the first electric car with extended-range capability. The Volt will be in showrooms in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland from Thursday, November 3, 2011.

"This year has been full of special events to celebrate our heritage with our customers, employees and business partners around the globe. Today, we start a new era of personal mobility with the Volt, continuing the tradition of designing cars that help our customers make the most of life's opportunities," said Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe.

100 birthday gifts provide mobility to children in need

Throughout its centenary year, Chevrolet has organized a series of parties, not to receive birthday gifts, but instead to donate 100 new Chevrolets – ranging from Spark city cars to Orlando 7-seaters and Captiva SUVs – to SOS Children's Villages throughout Europe, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Lesotho and Israel.

On November 3, Chevrolet will hand over the 99th and 100th cars to SOS Children's Villages Roma at a special celebration on the outskirts of Italy's capital city.

The initiative will increase the mobility of the children and their SOS mothers as well as the ability of the social workers who run the SOS Family Strengthening Programs to visit disadvantaged families in the communities.

"The SOS mothers need to be mobile as they manage the same challenges of running a large household as other parents do. It is not always easy to use public transportation, so mobility is absolutely crucial for us to be able to support our children," Richard Pichler, Secretary General of SOS Children's Villages explained.

Chevrolet sculpture for founder's home town

Chevrolet has been a long-time supporter of the creative arts. This tradition continues in Louis Chevrolet's Swiss birthplace, the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, where Chevrolet Europe will honor the company’s co-founder by commissioning a public artwork that will be built on the Parc de l'Ouest.

A competition among four teams of renowned artists will determine who creates the artwork. In March 2012, the winning design will be selected by a jury including representatives from La Chaux-de-Fonds and Chevrolet as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the president of Switzerland's Federal Arts Commission.

The sculpture will serve as a permanent landmark, reminding visitors to La Chaux-de-Fonds (a UNESCO world cultural site) of one of the city's most famous sons and the brand that bears his name.

100 years strong

Swiss émigré and "dare-devil" racing driver Louis Chevrolet and U.S. industrialist Billy Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit, U.S.A. on November 3, 1911.

One hundred years and more than 209 million cars and trucks later, Chevrolet is the world's fourth largest car brand in terms of annual sales, with more than 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2010 in more than 130 countries. Loosely translated, someone in the world buys a Chevrolet about every 7 seconds.

Today the Chevrolet bow-tie continues to represent a youthful, pioneering spirit, confidently expressive design, and uncompromising durability. These qualities can be seen in the whole new line-up including the Chevrolet Cruze, winner of the world touring car championship twice in a row, and the award-winning Chevrolet Volt electric car.

"2011 has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the iconic successes of the past," said Wayne Brannon. "As we enter our second century, we will continue to be inspired by Louis Chevrolet and his personal motto, 'Never give up!'"

More information on the Chevrolet Centennial can be found at: media.chevroleteurope.com/centennial

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.