Model history
1987 - Metro name first appears on naturally-aspirated Chevrolet Sprint. Car sold as "Chevrolet Sprint Metro."
1988 - Production begins on the first Geo Metro models in Japan
1989 - The Geo Metro hits showrooms in the United States, replacing the Chevrolet Sprint. In Canada the car retains the Chevrolet Sprint name.
1990 - Geo introduces Metro LSi models, which included upgraded amenities, such as an automatic transmission, air conditioning and a tape player to supplement the stereo. Geo also introduced the XFi model, a polar opposite of the LSi, offering no interior amenities, but boasting a highway gas mileage of over 50 mpg (4.7 L/100 km). Production began at CAMI Automotive, where all remaining Metro models with the exception of convertibles will be produced from then on. Convertibles debut this year as well, available only in LSi trim.
1991 - GM ups the order on convertible models this year, and new paint options are added.
1992 - Metro gets freshened front and rear fascias and an all new dashboard layout, with a more ergonomic comfort control panel, and a new instrument cluster. This is the Metro's best-selling model year, boasting over 100,000 units sold. In Canada the Chevrolet Sprint is renamed Geo Metro.
1993 - Last year for convertible models. Automatic door locks, which deploy after the car reaches a speed of 10 mph (16 km/h) are introduced this year.
1994 - Last year for 5-door hatchback models.
1995 - An all-new Metro is introduced, featuring the new 4-cylinder engine available in LSi models, to supplement the 3-cylinder used in the base cars. Daytime running lights are standard (the Metro was the first GM car to get DRLs as standard equipment), as well as dual frontal airbags. The chassis is 30% stiffer than the first generation Metros, and it was the first car in the world to meet 1997 side-impact standards for North America. A new sedan is also introduced in the United States, replacing the 5-door hatchback, boasting all of the above mentioned upgrades.
1996 - OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics, Second generation) is added to Metro models, at a cost of some fuel efficiency.
1997 - The last year for Geo. The Metro will return in 1998 as a Chevrolet model, as will the Prizm and Tracker.
1998 - The Metro name is used again under Chevrolet, as it survives Geo. New front and rear fascias are added, giving the car a more modern exterior.
2000 - Last year for Metro sales to the general public and Metro hatchbacks. The Metro will return in 2001 as a fleet sales-only model. The Metro's future is uncertain.
2001 - The Metro's final year. The only model available this year is the 4-door LSi sedan. General Motors announces that the Metro will not be included in the 2002 Chevrolet model lineup. CAMI Automotive rolls the last Metro, a white LSi sedan, off the line in April. The Firefly follows suit and ends production soon after. The Swift stays and still is on sale in Japan and Eurasia.
The Chevrolet Aveo began sales in 2003, replacing the hole in the American Chevrolet lineup left by the Metro.