Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet Spark
Overview
Manufacturer
Production1998–2022
Body and chassis
ClassCity car (A)
Body style5-door hatchback
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorDaewoo Tico

The Chevrolet Spark (Korean: 쉐보레 스파크) is a city car manufactured by General Motors's subsidiary GM Korea from 1998 to 2022. The vehicle was developed by Daewoo and introduced in 1998 as the Daewoo Matiz (Korean: 대우 마티즈). In 2002, General Motors purchased Daewoo Motors, which was marketing the vehicle with several GM marques and nameplates.

The third generation was predominantly marketed under the Chevrolet brand in North America as the Chevrolet Spark and in Australia and New Zealand as the Holden Barina Spark. The fourth generation was launched in 2015, known as the Holden Spark in Australia and New Zealand.[1] It also serves as the basis for the Opel Karl in Europe,[2] Vauxhall Viva in the UK,[3][4] and VinFast Fadil in Vietnam, the latter being manufactured under license.[citation needed]

A limited-production all-electric version, the Chevrolet Spark EV, was released in the U.S. in selected markets in California and Oregon in June 2013. The Spark EV was the first all-electric passenger car marketed by General Motors since the EV1 was discontinued in 1999, and also the first offered for retail sale by GM (the EV1 was available only on lease).[5][6]

In the South Korean market, the Spark complies with South Korean "light car" (Korean: 경차, romanized: Gyeongcha) regulations, which regulate overall vehicle dimensions and engine capacity with tax and parking fee benefits.[7]

Production of the Spark at the Changwon, South Korea assembly plant ended in 2022. The plant would instead produce the second-generation Trax.[8]

  1. ^ "GM's Holden Renames Barina Spark To Holden Spark". GM Authority. 26 February 2016.
  2. ^ Capparella, Joseph (11 March 2015). "European Opel Karl Previews 2016 Chevrolet Spark". Motortrend.
  3. ^ "Vauxhall Viva Reborn from Chevy Spark, Should Be Called Reviva?". Thenewswheel.com. 22 May 2014.
  4. ^ Kreindler, Derek (22 May 2014). "Viva Vauxhall! British Brand Adds Spark To Its Lineup".
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT101211 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference EVreleased was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "기아 모닝 레이 | 쉐보레 스파크 2021 경차 혜택?". 프리카톡 (in Korean). 8 January 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ 최, 경애 (19 October 2022). "(LEAD) GM Korea targets turnaround in 2023 with focus on exports". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 22 January 2023.