Funny note on this...well, sort of.
I was in my dealer for a long time today, having some issues looked into, and in the service building they have both a new '09 Summit White Malibu Hybrid (odometer says 2 miles, just prepped & parked) and an '09 Cyber Gray Corvette Z06. Knowing full well about this "chip" problem--I have it ever so slight of slightly, and touched the 2 line spots up myself--as soon as I rounded the corner on the Hybrid, checking it out, I could see a black spot in the crevice where it was chipped immediately. Passenger's side only, driver's side perfect.
As I sat a long, long time, for most of the day, actually, I got to watch a lot of people come & go and check out the cars. Just by chance, a little after lunch, the service manager came around the counter and was about to walk past the Malibu when he stopped and looked at that front corner. I was already up and he looked at me (we've chatted, about such "common" things), I nodded, and said "You know that chipping is very common?" "Really? From what, vibration of the fascia? This car has never been driven, just prepped and parked." I concurred and said to go check all the others on the lot--particularly the light colored ones--and you'll at least find another, to which he had a "Huh."
Long story short, the talk about this and I knowing it well, only to WATCH a service manager first become aware of it for the first time ever by walking past a car and noticing "something"...
Although, later to fill some time, I went out and checked all the other lot 'Bus myself and, in the wet slushiness of the day, only could find one other that had the rub/chip slightly.
I think it's the combination of some of the paints vs. being on an edge (paint vs. an edge = not a happy union, often) plus the inherent friction in that spot, and this happens. Could probably be tracked down & fixed by reviewing the fascia shape/attachment in that area and also the painting/cure time vs. assembly, among other things...but it is very common, and should be addressed.
