Chevrolet Beat, which is sold in a lot of international countries as the Spark (while we get an updated Matiz as the Spark) has crossed the 1 million mark in worldwide sales! The Beat, in its present form, has been on sale since 2009 and was unveiled for the first time at the 2007 New York International Auto Show.
The car rose to fame when it was showcased in the 2009 Hollywood cinema, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Beat has been in India for quite some time and also holds the title of most fuel efficient hatchback thanks to its three pot, 936 cc diesel mill, which has been derived from the GM-Fiat’s 1.3 L multijet diesel engine. This version claims a mileage of 25.44 kmpl. The combined sale of Beat, both petrol and diesel, has reached 1,78,000 units in India.
Designed keeping the youth as its key target audience, Beat sports features which are often seen in slightly bigger cars, like steering-mounted audio controls, height adjustable driver’s seat and all new silver interior theme. It also gets a trendy looking motorcycle inspired central information console near the steering column. In fact most Beat buyers are first time buyers and of the total sales roughly 60 per cent of them have never owned a Chevrolet before!
Beat is sold in 71 markets, garnering its maximum sales in South Korea, followed by United States and Mexico. The Beat, this year, has also managed to become the only product in the mini car segment to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. Lightweight, high-strength steels forms 60 per cent of Beat’s under body and 40 percent of its upper body. It is also used in the roof bow and B-pillars.
Chevrolet India has also started exporting the Beat made in its Talegaon manufacturing facility to Chile. The car would be exported to other countries as well with time.
