Chevrolet dealers will get a five-door hatchback addition to their showrooms from mid-2011.

The GM-owned brand aims to compete harder with other value brands in the UK and mainland Europe car markets where compact hatchback is a key volume segment.

Full details and prices will be announced next year, but the hatch will have a cargo capacity of almost 400 litres and a split-fold rear seat. Chevrolet Cruze hatch from mid 2011

According to Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe, the potential for meeting further customer demand is significant.

"Cruze is turning out to be a real success story. We are selling it in 70 countries around the world and it has recently surpassed the Aveo as our top selling passenger car nameplate globally.

"Hatchbacks play a critical role in many markets. The total compact segment in Europe represents around 4.8 million units which is over a quarter of the total market, with hatchbacks representing around 65% of that volume.

"We therefore expect to see increased business in a number of regions, while sending out a signal that Chevrolet is now a serious mainstream player in Europe."

So far in 2010, Cruze tops the compact saloon sales charts in many of the larger European markets including Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the U.K., where it is exceeding forecasted sales.