GM mini-car may come to United States

DETROIT, July 4 (UPI) -- A mini-car designed by the General Motors Corp. for Asia and Latin America may soon be available in U.S. showrooms, a company spokesman says.

GM spokesman Dee Allen said the automobile giant was reviewing its current sales plan in the United States following new demands in the domestic auto market because of soaring gasoline prices, The Detroit News said Friday.

"Everything is under review," Allen said. "Obviously, the market has been changing rather rapidly."

General Motors already used a 2007 New York auto show to unveil its new two-door hatchback, the 11 and a half feet long Chevrolet Beat.

The company's new focus on smaller cars comes as $4-a-gallon gas drives auto buyers away from larger vehicles like light trucks and SUVs, the News reported.

The newspaper said the U.S. automaker's share price fell once again Wednesday to $10 a share, the lowest General Motors shares have been in more than 50 years.

The drop in share price comes as the company's sales have decreased 16.3 percent in 2008, the News said.