GM’s Chevy Brand Sweeps North America Car, Truck Awards

(Bloomberg) - General Motors Co. (GM)’s Chevrolet brand swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards at the Detroit auto show with its Corvette Stingray sports car and Silverado pickup.

The win, which marks the first time Detroit-based GM has taken both awards since 2007, underscores the automaker’s product resurgence following its 2009 U.S. government-backed bankruptcy reorganization. Ford Motor Co. in 2010 was the last to sweep the awards with the Transit Connect van and the hybrid version of its Fusion sedan.

GM’s win is “very significant,” said Mary Barra, who is slated to become chief executive officer Jan. 15 as Dan Akerson retires. “I hope that people look, and if they haven’t considered General Motors or Chevrolet they’ll get into the showroom, because I’m confident if they get into the showroom they’re going to see a lot of vehicles they like,” Barra told reporters after the awards were announced.

The Corvette Stingray beat out GM’s Cadillac CTS and Mazda Motor Corp.’s Mazda3. The Silverado, a full-sized pickup that ranks among GM’s most profitable vehicles, beat Honda Motor Co.’s Acura MDX and Chrysler Group LLC’s Jeep Cherokee.

GM rose 0.4 percent to $40.20 at 8:57 a.m. in New York. The stock advanced 42 percent last year.