DETROIT – For the first time in five years, an American car is the best selling compact car in the United States -- at least for one month. The Chevrolet Cruze recorded 22,711 segment-topping sales in May, and achieved its second consecutive appearance on the Top 10 across all U.S. auto segments. It edged out another America car, the Ford Focus, by 408 units.

The Cruze also has helped Chevrolet gain share in the compact segment – which represented 16 percent of total U.S. sales in May – and accelerated the brand’s shift to fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines.

In May, fuel-efficient models four-cylinder vehicles – including Cruze, Equinox and Malibu – accounted for 51 percent of Chevrolet retail sales. That is up from 36 percent in May a year ago, and doubles the rate of four-cylinder sales five years ago.

“The launch of the Cruze has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Alan Batey, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. “Cruze launched as a brand-new vehicle, with a brand-new name, in one of the most competitive segments in the industry.

Cruze trails only the Honda Civic in sales for the 2011 calendar year: