Chevy Sets New Global Sales Record

General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet brand boosted worldwide sales 3% year over year to nearly 1.3 million vehicles in the April-June period of 2012, a record for the second quarter.

Chevy hiked its volume in four of its five largest national markets: the U.S. (5% to 513,500 vehicles), China (2% to 141,800 units), Russia (13% to 57,300 units) and Mexico (12% to 41,400 units.) But demand fell 4% to 153,800 units in Brazil.

The brand's sales jumped 14% year over year to 61,900 vehicles in western and central Europe in the second quarter.

The Cruze compact car remains Chevy's best-selling model worldwide with sales of more than 350,000 units in the first half of this year.