GM Daewoo exports Chevrolet Spark to Europe

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the Korean unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors Co., said Friday it has begun exports of Chevrolet Spark to European markets, the first step by GM to sell the mini-car in more than 150 countries, Yonhap News reported.

GM Daewoo started selling the Spark in South Korea from September this year under the name of Matiz Creative. Equipped with a 1-liter gasoline engine and a four-speed automatic transmission, the Spark can travel 17 kilometers per liter.

The Spark underlined GM`s focus on small cars as it recently emerged from bankruptcy protection after painful reorganization.

"Given its performance, design and quality, the Matiz Creative is expected to satisfy the needs of customers around the world," said Hwang Woo-seong, head of GM Daewoo`s plant in the southern city of Changwon, where the mini-car is produced.

By the end of this year, GM Daewoo expects to export about 20,000 units of the Spark, the company said in a statement.