Chevrolet sales to small businesses increased for three consecutive months, with the fourth quarter of 2010 significantly outpacing the total sales increase for the brand nationally. Dealers recorded a 36 percent increase in small business sales for the final quarter of last year, which was almost three times the increase for the industry during the same time period.  

"Small businesses put off capital expenditures such as vehicle purchases in order to weather the economic storm," according to Don Johnson, GM vice president of U.S. sales operations. "With the continuing improvement in consumer spending, and improving profitability of these businesses, we're beginning to see a significant influx of small business buyers to Chevrolet showrooms."

The increase supports findings in a National Federation of Independent Business survey which showed that small business owners' optimism reached its highest level in the fourth quarter of 2010. The study also focused attention on an increasing likelihood that small businesses will begin hiring in the near term.