After purchasing the Daewoo remains, GM found a pile of blueprints and plans for several cars, including a small-segment vehicle, the Aveo/Kalos.
Chevrolet needed a low-budged vehicle, required not only by car-rental companies but also by private customers. The Aveo came in the right moment at the right time, at least for some countries. In the U.S., the small sedan was good in heavy traffic, had an impressive fuel efficiency, and the performance of a donkey in full rage.

TheAveo’s rounded shapes, with straight lines for the front turn signals and headlights, showed a mix between a bio-design and a new-edge-design concept. The smiling grille sported a horizontal slat where Chevrolet placed the bow-tie badge small enough to be almost unnoticeable. A sculptured line went down on the door panels on the sides, while in the back, the tall trunk looked like it was added after the hatchback was already built. And that’s exactly what happened since the original design was for the five-door hatchback, not for the sedan.

Inside, the Aveo was built with low-budget materials. It featured cranked windows and no AC nor stereo for the base trim level. Usually, the customers bought the more expensive versions. At the front, the tall seating position made the taller driver brush their hair with the car’s ceiling, while the rear passengers had minimal legroom, shoulder room, elbow room, or headroom. At least the trunk was big enough to fit four medium-sized luggage inside it.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a range of six engines, depending on the market. It offered a five-speed manual transmission for the entire range.