Chevy Boosts Global Sales 7% in First Quarter

General Motors Co. says its Chevrolet brand sold 1.2 million vehicles worldwide in the first quarter of this year compared to 1.1 million units in the same period of 2011. The increase marks Chevy's sixth consecutive quarter of record sales.

The brand hiked U.S. sales 8% to 448,000 vehicles in the first quarter. Volume edged up 1% to a record 162,000 units in China. Demand climbed 8% to 55,100 units in western and central Europe, despite a 9% industrywide decline. Sales slipped 4% to 137,000 units in Brazil.

The Cruze compact car is the marque's top-selling model worldwide in the quarter with a 20% year-over-year gain to 180,000 units.

Chevy sold 4.8 million vehicles last year and expects volume to exceed 5 million units in 2012.