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While General Motors was busy celebrating the start of Cruze production in Ohio, journalists in Los Angeles were given a sneak peek at the next wave of Chevrolet’s small car assault: the 2012 Aveo.

These images, shown at a presentation this morning, are our official first look at the production Aveo in sedan form. As GM promised, the production car seems to bear a close resemblance to the Aveo RS concept shown at the Detroit auto show in January, utilizing the same wide grille, quad headlamps, and aggressive front fascia.

The resemblance continues within, where the concept’s interior — apart from nixing the leather seating — is carried over with virtually no change. GM’s images shows a two-tone brown-on-black cabin, similar to those available on the Malibu and Equinox. Although unusual, we’re not surprised to see the digital speedometer display make its way into the production Aveo. (It’s also used in the production form of the Chevy Spark microcar.)

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General Motors thinks the new Chevrolet Cruze will be quite successful. So much so, in fact, that it is adding a third shift to the assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, to accommodate the anticipated demand. The move will create an additional 1200 jobs at the facility.

“Cruze is a perfect example of how GM’s turnaround is focused on the right products at the right time,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. “This is a global car already kicking goals in 60 international markets.  Based on that reaction, we expect the plant will be busy building a hot seller for North America.”

The extra workers will in turn produce $47 million in payroll, $470,000 in local income tax, and $1.4 million in state income tax. The workforce will increase from 3300 to 4500 workers.

Lordstown’s production line is housed in a 5-million-square-foot facility. It currently manufactures Cobalt models for the U.S. and Canada. Production of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will commence this summer after the Cobalt is phased out.

On a similar note, GM also announced the following:

- Third shifts added at the Fairfax, Kansas; Lansing Delta Township, Michigan; and Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plants, adding a total of 2,400 jobs. The third shift started at Fairfax last month, while the Lansing Delta Township and Fort Wayne third shifts start in the second quarter

- The all-new Chevrolet Aveo, another member of Chevrolet’s growing family of small and compact cars, will be built in Lake Orion, Michigan, in 2011 for the North American market

- A $246-million investment at GM’s White Marsh, Maryland, transmission plant to develop and manufacture electric motors in the U.S., which will create about 200 jobs.