2012 Chevrolet Sonic to get first Ecologic label

All vehicles sold by General Motors Company’s (NYSE: GM) Chevrolet Division in the United States will have the trademarked Ecologic environmental labels, starting with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. They will let customers see some of the environmental features of the vehicle relating to manufacturing, driving and recycling.

According to the GM news release, Chevrolet is the first automotive brand to include a label of this kind on its vehicles. The Ecologic labels will be located on the rear driver-side window of Sonics beginning in March. It will appear on 2013 Chevrolet vehicles later this year.

Each claim on the Chevrolet-created labels is audited by Two Tomorrows, an independent third-party sustainability agency that provides auditing and assurance services to companies for environmental initiatives.

“Customers want companies to be honest and transparent about their environmental efforts and sustainability goals, and rightly so,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “Putting an Ecologic label on each Chevrolet is just one more way for us to share our environmental progress.”

Chevrolet is focused on investing in fuel-saving technologies, using alternative energy sources, and reducing waste and emissions from its manufacturing facilities. The label communicates vehicle-specific features in the following areas:

- Before the road: Environmental aspects related to vehicle manufacturing and assembly.
- On the road: Fuel-saving features such as advanced engine technologies, aerodynamics, lighter weight components or low-rolling resistance tires.
- After the road: How 85 percent by weight of the vehicle can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.

“Chevrolet’s goal to invest millions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other lower-carbon projects to reduce U.S. emissions by up to 8 million metric tons demonstrates innovative corporate leadership,” said Eileen Claussen, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). “With this new labeling program, Chevrolet not only gives easy access to information customers want, it again shows its commitment to the environment.”

More information on the audit process and environmental features for each vehicle with an Ecologic label will be available on the Chevrolet website.

The Chevrolet Sonic 1.4L turbo with a six-speed manual transmission achieves an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, making it one of the most fuel-efficient small cars in America. It is the only subcompact car assembled in the United States. To learn more, visit the Chevy Sonic Facebook page.