Cruze gets the thumbprint of approval

Ohio GM plant rolls off the first of Chevy's challenge in the compact car market

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Ohio Gov. Ted Strictland pressed an inked thumbprint against the roofline of a red Chevrolet Cruze on Wednesday, signifying that the all-new compact was an world-class vehicle produced in the state he leads. 

Strickland and General Motors North America President Mark Reuss drove the red Cruze off the end of the assembly line followed by white and blue models driven by members of the Cruze launch team that includes United Auto Workers locals 1112 and 1714.

“The rebirth of the U.S. economy starts in Lordstown, Ohio with the Chevrolet Cruze,” Reuss told a crowd of about 2,000 plant workers and several hundred community members who turned out to see the ceremonial start of production.  “The Cruze is the finest compact car GM has ever made, period.”

The crowd broke into cheers and applause as Reuss started the engine of the Cruze to drive it off the end of the assembly line. Cruze models will begin arriving in Chevrolet showrooms later this month.

During a ceremony that followed the drive off, 17-year-old Courtney Arbutina received an oversize Cruze ignition key made of foam core symbolizing the Cruze her father purchased for her because of the range of standard safety equipment, including 10 air bags.

“I did it because the Cruze is a great car. And above all, it’s a safe car,” Arbutina said. “It offers me peace of mind knowing that my daughter will be driving one of the safest cars on the highway today.

Read more about the Cruze at http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Sept/0908_cruze

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