GM to build new small sedan for emerging markets

General Motors has given the green light to produce a new small sedan at its Uzbekistan YoAJ joint-venture facility. The sedan, expected to be slightly longer than the Spark pictured above, will be engineered in Brazil and sold in smaller, emerging markets.

The upcoming sedan is part of a family of GM products in a class that the company refers to as global small vehicles for emerging markets. The initial launch will include a sedan-only body, with the possibility for a hatchback variant a couple years from now. Hatchback availability will be determined by individual market demand.

GM states that the small sedan will be priced to compete with other low-cost brands. According to Ward's Auto, production should begin by the end of 2012 with a release date by early 2013. Target markets include Mexico, South Africa, Middle Eastern nations, Uzbekistan, Russia, with more to follow.

[Source: Ward's Auto]