GENERAL MOTORS' NEW CARS FOR INDIA

General Motors India launches 3 cars, plus new variant of Tavera

Auto Expo 2006 sees General Motors India launching 3 cars.

OUR AUTOMOBILE CORRESPONDENT

18 January 2006
NEW DELHI, INDIA

General Motors India is in top gear – The US-based carmaker launched three cars in a single day on Wednesday and a new variant of Chevrolet Tavera two days back.

General Motors said the firm aims to grab ten per cent of the booming Indian market share in six years, that is by 2010. The three cars launched on Wednesday by GM India are the premium hatchback Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Aveo sedan and the sportback Optra SRV. 

India, Rajeev Chaba said, president , General Motors India , said on the occassion "the Chevrolet was among the fastest growing car brands in India and would push up the company's sales on a higher trajectory." 

Chaba admitted that General Motors regards India as a key market for investments. The General Motors India head also hinted that his firm would be proactive in its approach to the Indian market. 

As part of this, GM would increase its capacity at its plant in Halol in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The capacity would be increased from its present 60,000 units to 85,000 units. The firm expects an investment of Rs 100 crore for the purpose, Chaba informed. 

General Motors would also open two spare parts distribution centres in the country. It has identified the location for these centres – one would be in Maharashtra and the other one would be in the national capital – New Delhi.

The company already have such centres at Halol and Chennai, capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The GM chief, however ,declined to divulge details about the new models the company is launching in India.

General Motors India had on Monday launched a new variant of Chevrolet Tavera. The firm has priced it at Rs 5.99 lakhs.

The 2006 NY edition comes has additional third row space, according to a company statement.

"The 2006 Chevrolet Tavera represents an extension of our commitment to exceed customer's expectations," Chaba said during the launch. 

Third row addition is a result of extensive re-engineering of the Chasis and floor pan, according to the company. 
Analaysts say auto majors are unveiling more and more plans for India as the country is considered one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world.

They said one of the primary reasons behind GM’s recovery in India was the immensely popular Chevrolet Tavera. GM’s Opel series had failed to make much impact in the country, it may be recalled. It was after this setback that the carmaker tried to cash in on the popularity of the Chevrolet brand. The move clicked. 

GM’s sales grew by around 18 per cent in 2005. The company sold around 30,837 vehicles in 2005. The comparative figure for 2004 is 26,166. Tavera alone accounted for 18,622 units in 2005. GM also sells Corsa, Corsa Sail, Forester and Opel Vectra in India. 

On December 22 last year, General Motors India had announced a hike in prices of all models of its multi-utility Chevrolet Tavera, from December 24. The hike ranged from ranging from Rs 4,800 to Rs 7,800. Chevrolet Tavero B1-10 (lower-end variant) ex-factory price went up by Rs 4,350 to Rs 5,95,097 and the upper-end variant D1-Elite up by Rs 7,800 to Rs 8,79,075, according to a company statement.