Chevy Malibu receives over 6,000 orders in four days
GM Program Engineering Manager Jeremy Short, left, poses with GM Korea Power Train Engineering Managing Director Hwang Joon-ha during a test drive event for the Chevrolet Malibu sedan at the W Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of GM Korea
By Jhoo Dong-chan
A GM Korea official said Tuesday that the company’s recently introduced Malibu sedan has received more than 6,000 orders in the four days since the model was introduced at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro, southwestern Seoul, on April 27.
Receiving over 2,000 orders for the model on the day of its launch, the Malibu sedan is expected to be a “game changer” in the nation’s mid-size sedan market, an official said.
In order to meet customer demands, workers at GM Korea’s Bupyeong plant in Incheon reportedly have decided to work full-time during the Children’s Day holidays this week.
During its introduction on April 27, Dale Sullivan, GM Korea vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing (VSSM), expressed his confidence in the Malibu, saying it will be the top seller in the nation's mid-sized sedan market.
"There are strong competitors in the class such as the Hyundai Sonata and the Renault Samsung SM6. But the all-new Malibu will beat them all in sales," Sullivan said.
The Malibu’s sleek and sporty design received favorable responses from reporters during its unveiling, and the car is expected to attract not only traditional sedan buyers in their 40s and 50s but also young motorists in their 20s and 30s.
It comes with a choice of turbocharged engines ― the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline engines. Especially, the 2.0-liter turbo engine produces 253 horsepower and 36.0 kgm of torque. The engine is paired with an electronically controlled transmission that has a wider gear range and tighter gear ratios, making the Malibu the most powerful and responsive sedan in its class.
The price for the all-new Malibu starts at 23.1 million won ($20,143).