T-platform variants were marketed internationally as the Pontiac Acadian in Canada; Pontiac T1000/1000 in the United States (1981–1987); K-180 in Argentina; Vauxhall Chevette in the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and Uruguay; Opel Kadett C in Germany; Isuzu Gemini in Japan, Holden Gemini in Australia; AYMESA Cóndor in Ecuador (from 1978); Saehan Gemini and Daewoo Maepsy in South Korea; and as a coupe utility (pickup), the Chevy (or GMC) 500 in Brazil and South America.

Introduced with a full-color nationwide campaign in 140–150 of the country's largest daily papers,[3] the New York Times said the "little American car holds its own with the foreigners.

"[4] Marketed as “Chevrolet’s New Kind of American Car,” the Chevette was of a conventional design: featuring unibody construction, rear-drive and a live rear axle.

The Chevette was prompted by GM's Energy Task Force, which arose out of the crisis and the resultant shift in consumer demand to smaller, foreign vehicles boasting greater fuel efficiency.

With the well-known problems of its predecessor, the Vega, including production, reliability and corrosion issues, the team reworked the international platform for the Chevette, ultimately sharing no actual body panels with other T-platform variants.

[8] The first North American Chevette, a low level trim two-door hatchback marketed as the Chevette Scooter, was assembled on August 18, 1975 [9] and officially introduced on September 16, in Washington, DC, with the first models going on sale on October 2,[10] just after new legislation-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

Other features included rack-and-pinion steering, front disc brakes, front stabilizer bar, 13-inch tires, tricolor taillights, front bucket seats, an onboard diagnostic system, extensive acoustic insulation, a single steering column-mounted stalk (integrating controls for signal indicators, wipers, and windshield washers), and factory options including swing-out rear quarter windows, AM/FM radio, analog clock, delayed wipers, and a chrome "Bright Package".

Chevrolet claimed that the Chevette's turning circle (30.2 feet (9.2 m)) was one of the smallest in the world and that it was essentially a "metric" car, "international in design and heritage".

Scooter trim: the least expensive Scooter trim carried a $2,899 suggested retail price (equivalent to $15,500 in 2023) and was substantially decontented; equipment included only two front passenger seats and an optional rear seat, deletion of most exterior chrome, painted rather than chrome bumpers, an open glove box, black carpeting, black instrument panel, door-pull straps in lieu of arm rests, fiberboard door panels, fender without antenna accommodation, side and rear decals instead of cast metal emblems, untinted glass and deleted sun visor and passenger seat fore-aft adjustment.

The Scooter model created a controversy at introduction, with critics contending the trim level was only marketed to allow a lower advertised price, but without a true intention to sell many.

Lee Iacocca subsequently announced Ford would introduce its Pinto Pony MPG model, undercutting the Scooter price by $4 and including a back seat.

1978: For 1978, a new four-door hatchback used a 97.3-inch (2,470 mm) wheelbase, two inches longer than the two-door – ultimately accounting for more than half of the Chevette's nearly 300,000 sales.

An "HO" (high output) version was available in addition to the standard 1.6-liter, featuring a modified head and a larger valves-cam profile.

An active passenger-restraint system was introduced in small numbers as an option which featured a lower hanging dashboard, automatic seatbelts, and a center-dash console.

1980: For MY 1980 rear fascia was revised with a squared-off hatch, wraparound taillights with combined, single-colored turn signals, and a round gas-filler door.

A new engine cylinder head design (swirl-port) was introduced to improve low-end torque and fuel economy.

1982: For MY 1982, models featured a five-speed manual transmission option on gasoline-powered two-door cars (standard with diesel).

New GM THM-180C (THM200C for diesel model) automatic transmissions, which included a locking torque converter for greater fuel mileage, were available.

Introduction of a pump-driven AIR system in the late model year replaced PAIR to help efficiency of the catalytic converter.

The Pontiac T1000 received a unique grille, body molding, and horizontal lined taillights, as well as an alloy sport wheel option.

General Motors of Canada's Pontiac Acadian, a rebadged Chevette, received all the T1000's Pontiac-exclusive features from this point on.

The Chevette S model introduced a cosmetic package that included black-painted styled-steel wheels and a red-accented grille and moldings, as well as oversized decal emblems in red.

Front bucket seats featured new adjustable knobs on the sides, but lost the reclining levers of previous years.

[24] The hatchback had unique bodywork for Latin America, longer than the European Kadett City and with a notch at the base à la the period Ford Escort.

The Latin American Chevettes underwent a series of facelifts, in 1978, 1983, and a major one in 1987, which meant new headlights and a black plastic grille.

As a tax cut for sub-1-liter cars appeared in late 1990, General Motors do Brasil responded with the 1.0-litre "Chevette Junior" for early 1992.

The Junior did not do particularly well in the market, competing against the much more modern Fiat Uno Mille, Volkswagen Gol, and Ford Escort Hobby.

The Chevette was made locally in Chile in 2-door and 4-door form from 1976 to 1983 while the Marajo station wagon was always imported from Brazil as was the Chevy 500 pickup.

When catalytic converters were made a requirement in that country, GMB was unable to develop such an engine and the Chevette was withdrawn from the Chilean market after the 1992 model year.

[30] Created by Horacio Torrendell, a fibreglass-bodied version (actually based on the Vauxhall Chevette's bodywork) called the Grumett was built in Uruguay.