The 5-door hatchback comes with a 1.2-liter engine with a manual transmission, or a 1.4-liter engine with a 5-speed electronic manual transmission. The car is priced from 56,800 yuan ($8,316) to 66,800 yuan ($9,780), according to GM China.

With its boxy design, the New Sail's rear seats can be folded in a 4/6 configuration or folded completely flat.

The New Sail is the first model developed by Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Co., GM's automotive design subsidiary in Shanghai. The car is built in Shanghai GM's Dongyue plant in China's coastal Shandong province.

The New Sail was developed specifically for Chinese customers, but it has sales potential in other emerging markets, said former GM CEO Fritz Henderson when he visited China last October.

Since the sedan version of the New Sale debuted in January, GM has sold about 7,500 units per month.  The New Sail complements Chevrolet's other small cars in China, the Lova and Aveo.