What are the two make-or-break car markets going to be over the next few years – and what have Chevrolet got to offer them? With a range of cars already launched, and some exciting cars in development, Chevrolet are looking well positioned to hit the big markets with some carefully executed, efficiently driven and gracefully designed punches. Whether it is the increasingly important global small car market, the green market or the still lucrative 7 seater 4x4 and SUV market, let’s take a look at the opportunities and offerings…

The small car market

With the US now representing less than a quarter of the world car industry – and its market share predicted to decline further still – it looks likely that growth for the global car industry will come from emerging markets such as India, China and eastern Europe. In China alone, car ownership figures are predicted to grow by 36% annually. This, in turn, means that the fastest-growing segment will be the small car market – the only size of car that can be produced to be affordable to the growing middle classes in these countries.

The Chevrolet Cruze has been designed to compete with the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, as well as new small cars from Ford Motor and Hyundai. The Cruze has been designed to compete globally and to capture both a cost-conscious and more environmentally aware market in the US and Europe, as well as to garner sales in emerging markets.

The Cruze’s stylish look has taken its inspiration from Chevrolet’s participation in the World Touring Car Championships (WTCC), and its body design takes its cue from the muscular stance and signature front end of the Ultra car designed specifically for this.

Green cars – hydrogen, electric, and turbo-diesel

It is predicted that electric cars will constitute 10% of all global car sales by 2025, and the need to look for alternative sources of power for cars has been widely acknowledged. Rick Wagoner, the former chief executive of GM, commented in 2007 that “it is a business necessity that we find alternative sources of propulsion for our vehicles,” and this remains true today.

Chevrolet remains committed to ensuring that a green car deals out an enjoyable driving experience. Speaking of the Volt – the first electric car to generate its own electricity – Wayne Brannon, president of Chevrolet Europe, commented that “the Volt is all about making the electric driving experience one that is as intuitive, fun, and instinctive as any other vehicle its size out there today.” The Volt is already on sale in the US and launches in the UK in 2012 – and looks to set to attract a lot of the UK government’s commitment of up to a £5,000 grant for customers buying plug-in electric cars.

With one eye firmly on the future, the team at Chevrolet are testing designs for hydrogen cars, including the ground-breaking zero-emission Sequel, GM’s first hydrogen-powered SUV concept car. If hydrogen cars seem too far away, though, there is a range of hybrid-engine cars with impeccable green credentials gained from using a dual electric/battery and gas engine. Those already out or coming soon include the Captiva SUV 2.2L modern turbo-diesel, which offers the perfect balance of performance and fuel economy, and the Aveo RS, which is powered by a gutsy 140hp 1.4L ‘Ecotec’ turbo-charged engine with a six-speed manual transmission, delivering excellent performance when needed and exceptional fuel economy as standard.

Future proof

While a small car offering will suit the need for lower emissions and fuel efficiency for some in traditional markets – and simultaneously meet the price-point needs of emerging markets – Chevrolet’s new cars suggest that green motoring will be about more than just car size. The inclusion of a hydrogen-powered SUV and other larger car models with greater fuel efficiency and reduced-emission engines suggest that small will not be the only important car market of the future.