General Motors launches new Chevrolet Traverse

General Motors launched its new Chevrolet Traverse at its plant in Spring Hill today.

Production of the Traverse comes after a year-long retooling of the plant, which employs about 3500 workers.

The crossover enters the auto market at a time when sales are down, plagued by concerns over both credit and fuel efficiency.

But GM North America president Troy Clarke says the Traverse will surmount those obstacles. He expects Congress will help restore confidence in the credit market, so more people can finance new cars.

“For the folks here in Spring Hill, I would highlight, though, up and down, the fact of the matter is – You know, this time last year it was kind of gas prices that everybody was worried about – the new products that we’ve brought to market have all been extremely successful, and are selling at a rate much higher than the products they replace. We expect that this product here will really follow suit.”

GM expects to sell 100 thousand Traverses each year, starting at just under 30 thousand dollars.

The Traverse gets an estimated 17 miles per gallon in the city, and 24 on the highway. That’s far below the 35 miles per gallon Congress has mandated cars and light trucks achieve by 2020.