Rebooted Cruze to debut June 24

LORDSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley’s popular compact car soon will be center stage.

General Motors plans to debut the rebooted version of the automaker’s best-selling, Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze on June 24 in Detroit.

“I think our customers will be very pleased with the outcome,” said Glenn Johnson, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112.

The Cruze was launched in September 2010, and month after month continued to post impressive numbers.

Concern in 2010 was to make sure it was a “perfect car,” said then-GM plant manager Bob Parcell.

GM counted on the Cruze to help improve its performance in the small-car segment.

In its first year, the Cruze easily became known as a leader in the compact segment, and for a time it was the No. 1-selling car in America.

Johnson said the Cruze’s popularity means “we are getting a lot of repeat customers.” Some customers are going on their second and third Cruze, he said.

Robert Morales, president of UAW Local 1714, hopes that momentum from the first-generation Cruze transfers to the next generation.

Read more about the new model and its debut in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.