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Chevy Malibu to be built in Korea and sold as a Chevrolet

It may seem odd, but the first 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will be built in Bupyeong, Korea. It's leading an international roll-out of the mid-size sedan that will see it built in GM's Korean facility beginning this fall, followed by Jingjiao, China, in late 2011, and Fairfax, Kansas, and Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan, early next year.

The move is part of an internationalization of the Chevrolet brand, which for Korea means ending the sale of automobiles wearing the Daewoo nameplate. Already Spark, Aveo (to be sold as Sonic in the U.S.) and Cruze are sold in Korea as Chevrolets. Malibu will be Chevrolet's first midsize sedan to be sold around the world in almost 100 markets on six continents.

According to Russ Clark, Chevrolet's product director, "Adding Korea as a key sales market for the new Malibu further increases the brand's global presence and continues our growth path while increasing our car offerings to consumers in Korea."

General Motors has high hopes for the Chevrolet Malibu in Korea, noting that "Malibu-related" internet clubs total more than 30,000 members in Korea, "a market where Malibu has never been sold."

General Motors had chosen Auto Shanghai, China's premiere automobile show, for the Malibu's world debut, where it was well-received, named the Most Eye-Catching Car Model at the show.

Photo copyright General Motors.

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