GM bets high on compact cars
General Motors India, targeting a 10% market share in India by 2010, on Wednesday launched its premier sports utility vehicle, Chevrolet Captiva, at the 9th Auto Expo here.
The company, upbeat about the compact-car segment in the country, is already present in the segment with its entry-level Spark and Aveo U-Va, plans to launch its recently-unveiled concept car Chevrolet Beat in India by the end of 2008.
According to sources, GM will manufacture the new car at its upcoming plant at Talegaon in Maharashtra. The plant, which has been set up at an investment of Rs 1,300 crore, will become operational by August this year.
With an initial capacity of 1,40,000 units, the new plant will also see the roll-out of Spark as demand for the vehicle soars up. The company is currently selling around 2,000-2,500 units of Spark a month and expects to do about 5,000 units now.
Built on GM?s global mini architecture, the Chevrolet Beat concept was designed in GM?s Design Studio in Inchon , South Korea. It was, however, built in India, unlike the other two concept cars, Chevrolet Groove and Chevrolet Trax, that were showcased at the New York International Auto Show.
?Initially, we would test Indian market for Captiva through the CBU route and based on the response, we will take a call on whether to assemble it here,? president and managing director of GM India Karl Slym said.
