Chevrolet U-VA awarded BS Motoring Car of 2007
BS Motoring Reporter / Mumbai December 30, 2006
General Motors India’s new hatchback, the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, is the Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2007.
The U-VA beat formidable competition from the Honda Civic, the Hyundai Verna petrol and diesel, the Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 and 1.6, the Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia to win the top honours.
The U-VA won the award for being a well-built spacious hatchback that offers surprisingly peppy performance from its 1150cc motor, which is fuel efficient too. For its size, it rides and handles well and comes with a comprehensive list of safety and comfort features. The clincher, of course, was its persuasive price-tag.
The Business Standard Motoring rating system is designed to reward cars that are affordable and fuel efficient, keeping the larger mass of Indian buyers in mind. Only all-new cars that were launched in calendar year 2006 were eligible for the 2007 awards.
The U-VA joins previous winners like the Maruti Suzuki Swift (2006), Hyundai Getz (2005), Honda City (2004), Mahindra Scorpio (2003), and Fiat Palio (2002).
Other 2007 winners of the oldest automotive awards in the country have also been announced. The 150cc Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme trounced the new 125cc competition like the Honda Shine, Suzuki Zeus, and the Yamaha Gladiator to win the Business Standard Motoring Bike Of The Year 2007 Award.
The CBZ X-Treme won points across the board, and its strengths in engine performance, handling and riding pleasure helped it beat the rest of the competitors.
Fending off the likes of Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Honda CR-V, the superbly accomplished Toyota Camry has gone on to win the Business Standard Motoring Import Car Of The Year 2007 Award.
The Honda Civic won the Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2007 for becoming the new benchmark in its segment. The radical Civic is brilliant in all aspects and may have even become the Car Of The Year, if not for its price-tag.
The Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2007 Award went to a car that runs on diesel but keeps up and sometimes even beats quick and fast petrol machines — the Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi.
The Italy-designed Kinetic Blaze, which has unleashed a maxi-scooter craze in the country, is the Business Standard Motoring Scooter Of The Year 2007.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('55', '', 'GM‘s Aveo U-Va to take on Swift, Getz', '', '26'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('54', '', 'Aveo launched; Optra diesel next year', '', '25'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('53', '', 'Compact Competitor - Aveo U-VA', '', '24'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('52', '', 'GM enters compact class, eyes 2 lakh sales by ‘10', '', '23'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('51', '', 'GM‘s new hatchback to cost Rs. 3.99 Lakh', '', '22'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('50', '', 'HBL - GM lays foundation stone for Talegaon plant', '', '21'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('49', '', 'FEI - GM eyeing powertrain business in India', '', '20'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('48', '', 'GM TOI - GMIL lines up another small car by early 2009', '', '19'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('47', '', 'GM DNA MONEY - GM eyes Gujarat for engine unit', '', '18'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('46', '', 'BUSINESS STANDATD - GM may set up powertrain unit', '', '17'); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('45', '', 'GM Announces Chevrolet SRV Super Style Contest in Connection with Sponsorship of Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007', 'GM Announces Chevrolet SRV Super Style Contest in Connection with Sponsorship of Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007', 'Designers participating in Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 are invited to produce contemporary and stylish Chevrolet SRV accessories. A panel of auto industry experts and representatives from GM India will judge entries on their design, practicality and connection to the Chevrolet SRV and Chevrolet brand. The contributor of the winning entry will be presented the keys to a new Chevrolet SRV on the final day of Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007.
Ankush Arora, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Aftersales for GM India, drew a connection between Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 and the Chevrolet SRV. “Both epitomise style, glamour and glitz. Like Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007, the Chevrolet SRV Super Style Contest will provide an ideal platform for designers to express their imagination and creativity,” he said.
“The Chevrolet SRV is targeted at the young elite in metropolitan areas who are image conscious and have a zest for life. The new model from GM India has become especially popular among those who are stylish, trendy, ambitious and on the path to success. These are people who are bold and like to leverage their spending power as a means of personal fulfillment,” added Ankush Arora.
The Chevrolet SRV will be on display at Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 from October 30th through November 4th, 2006.
About the Chevrolet SRV
The Chevrolet SRV is among India’s newest compact-class vehicles. Its sporty styling is courtesy of Italdesign, the famed studio in Turin, Italy, founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Almond-shaped, clear-glass headlamps and a self-confident radiator grille dominate the front view. A long wheelbase of 2,600 millimetres with short overhangs, chrome-plated grip-type door handles, powerful-looking wheel arches and a belt line that rises toward the rear combine to create a dynamic side view.
The Chevrolet SRV’s muscular shoulder line extends toward the back of the vehicle, which is no less athletic with its eye-catching, wrap-around lights and strong character line below the rear window. Said Giorgetto Giugiaro, “Such lights decorate a car the way a beautiful watch or a special ring adorn a person with jewels. Front and rear headlamps have progressed from purely functional elements into unique aesthetic details.”
Its relatively low height of 1,445 millimetres underlines its dynamism, a characteristic that is also expressed in its sporty design, which continues into the interior. The most striking features inside are four round air vents with metallic rims. These harmonise perfectly with horizontal silver-metallic inserts that divide the instrument panel clearly into two sections: an upper section with a dark grey grained surface, which reduces dangerous reflections, and a lighter lower section. High-quality fabrics cover the Chevrolet SRV’s seats.
The Chevrolet SRV is compact only as far as its exterior dimensions (length/width: 4,295/1,725 millimetres) are concerned. Because of excellent space utilization, the amount of room inside – including 932 millimetres of legroom in back – is very generous for a vehicle in its class.
A great deal of attention has been paid to passenger comfort and the smallest of details. The divided rear bench can be folded down in a ratio of 40:60. There are plenty of storage locations in the cabin such as a cup holder in the front centre console, a pocket on the side of the front passenger seat, compartments in all four doors, a holder for sunglasses and a ticket clip in the driver’s sun visor.
Among the comprehensive list of standard features in the Chevrolet SRV are power windows, central locking, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a centre armrest with utility box for the front passenger, electrically operated outside mirrors, a rear armrest with cup holders, a rear windscreen wiper and defogger, front fog lamps, an MP3 player and six speakers, and a radio antenna integrated in the front windscreen.
Customers can choose an option package that consists of 15-inch sporty alloy wheels with wider tyres, a driver’s side air bag, a high-end Alpine dual DIN MP3, tape and radio music system, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet SRV, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet Optra and Chevrolet Aveo at its state-of-the-art facility in Halol, Gujarat.
For further information, please contact:
Sandeep Raj Singh / Vishwajeet Ganpate, Hanmer & Partners, New Delhi
Tel: 011 – 55960373, E-mail: sandeepsingh@hanmerpr.com / vishwajeet@hanmerpr.com
Or
Glen D Souza / Sandeep Fernandes, Hanmer & Partners, Mumbai
Tel: 022 – 67524600, E-mail : glen@hanmerpr.com / sandeep@hanmerpr.com
GM Announces New Manufacturing Facility in Maharashtra
Will More Than Double Capacity of World’s Largest Automaker in India
Mumbai – General Motors Corp. announced today it will build a state-of-the-art vehicle manufacturing facility in the western state of Maharashtra.
An agreement was signed by General Motors India President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba and Maharashtra Secretary (Industries) V.K. Jairath in the presence of the Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh, State Industries Minister Ashok Chavan, General Motors Asia Pacific President Nick Reilly and a host of other dignitaries.
GM’s investment in the new facility in the city of Talegaon will exceed $300 million. It will have an initial annual production capacity of 140,000 vehicles per year, with the capability of significant expansion as the market demands. The plant will employ more than 1,000 people at the outset.
The GM Manufacturing Facility - Talegaon will more than double GM’s annual manufacturing capacity in India to in excess of 220,000 vehicles.
The Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh said, “The presence of GM reaffirms Maharashtra as a leading investment destination. It will encourage other multinational and Indian companies to consider Maharashtra for their ventures. The state will extend its full support to GM’s new plant to ensure that it becomes a success.”
“We are proud and privileged to have General Motors as an investor in Maharashtra,” said State Industries Minister Ashok Chavan. “It is a demonstration of the investor-friendly approach practiced by the Maharashtra government.”
“The Talegaon facility is a sign of GM’s commitment to India,” said GM Asia Pacific President Nick Reilly. “Our new facility will enable us to continue the rapid build-up of our presence in one of the fastest growing and potentially largest markets in the world. We cannot remain a global industry leader without a strong presence in high-growth vehicle markets around the world like India.”
Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director of GM India, added: “We chose Maharashtra as the site of our new manufacturing facility largely because of its outstanding logistics and the proactive approach taken by the state government. Maharashtra also offers advantages in terms of its employment base, costs, infrastructure and geographic location. As a result, we felt that Maharashtra was the right fit for GM and our new plant.”
Construction of the 120-hectare (300-acre) facility will begin at the end of this month. It is expected to be completed within 20 months, with start of production scheduled for the third quarter of 2008. GM will initially manufacture a mini-car in Talegaon for the domestic market.
The Talegaon facility will complement GM’s existing production facility in Halol, Vadodara, which assembles the Chevrolet Tavera, Optra, the Optra Hatchback and the Aveo for sale in India. In addition, the GM India Technical Center in Bangalore is carrying out engineering, research and development activities for GM on a local, regional and global basis.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 millionGMcars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
For further information contact P. Balendran, Vice President (Corporate Affairs) GM India at 0124-280 3332; Mob.: 98100 90844
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India’s First Premium Sportsback Offers Plenty of Style, Room and Comfort
New Delhi, 28th June 2006: – General Motors India launched the Chevrolet SRV today at a ceremony presided over by President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba.
The SRV that goes on sale today is India’s first Premium Sportsback. “Market research indicates that there is growing demand for this type of car, especially among design-oriented consumers,” said Chaba. “With its combination of modern Italian design, generous list of standard features and roomy interior, the stylish five-door SRV will appeal to young professionals and others looking for a vehicle that offers outstanding value for money.”
Chaba added, “The SRV is a global product sold across Europe, North America, Canada and Asian markets that has been re-engineered for India based on extensive testing across the country to meet the specific needs of our customers as well as local driving conditions. It is an important addition to the Chevrolet family and will enable us to further tap into the growing lower-medium segment.”
Classic Styling Courtesy of Italdesign
The SRV’s sporty styling is courtesy of Italdesign, the famed studio in Turin, Italy, founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Almond-shaped, clear-glass headlamps and a self-confident radiator grille dominate the front view. A long wheelbase of 2,600 millimetres with short overhangs, chrome-plated grip-type door handles, powerful-looking wheel arches and a belt line that rises toward the rear combine to create a dynamic side view.
The SRV’s muscular shoulder line extends toward the back of the vehicle, which is no less athletic with its eye-catching, wrap-around lights and strong character line below the rear window. As per Giugiaro “Such lights decorate a car the way a beautiful watch or a special ring adorn a person with jewels, Front and rear headlamps have now progressed from purely functional elements into unique aesthetic details.”
Its relatively low height of 1,445 millimetres underlines the dynamism of the new compact-class vehicle, a characteristic that is also expressed in its sporty design, which continues into the interior. The most striking features inside are four round air vents with metallic rims. These harmonise perfectly with horizontal silver-metallic inserts that divide the instrument panel clearly into two sections: an upper section with a dark grey grained surface, which reduces dangerous reflections, and a lighter lower section. High-quality fabrics cover the SRV’s seats.
The SRV is compact only as far as its exterior dimensions (length/width: 4,295/1,725 millimetres)are concerned. Because of excellent space utilization, the amount of room inside – including 932 millimetres of legroom in back – is very generous for a vehicle in its class.
Comfort and Attention to Detail
A great deal of attention has been paid to passenger comfort and the smallest of details. The divided rear bench can be folded down in a ratio of 40:60. There are plenty of storage locations in the cabin such as a cup holder in the front centre console, a pocket on the side of the front passenger seat, compartments in all four doors, a holder for sunglasses and a ticket clip in the driver’s sun visor.
Among the comprehensive list of standard features in the SRV are power windows, central locking, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a centre armrest with utility box for the front passenger, electrically operated outside mirrors, rear arm rest with cup holders, rear windscreen wiper and defogger, front fog lamps, an MP3 player, a radio antenna integrated in the front windscreen and six speakers.
Customers can choose an option package that consists of 15-inch sporty alloy wheels with wider tyres, a driver’s side air bag, a high-end Alpine dual DIN MP3, tape and radio music system, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob.
Responsive 1.6-Litre Petrol Engine
The SRV’s powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine with VGIS technology has four valves per cylinder and dual overhead camshafts driven by a toothed belt for silent operation. The engine generates 101 PS and 140 Nm of torque. Despite excellent performance characteristics, fuel efficiency is ensured thanks to the engine’s unique VGIS technology, which provides a uniform spread of power and torque from low rpm upward.
Advanced Safety via High-Strength Steel
GM engineers succeeded in providing the SRV exceptionally high torsional rigidity and crash stability through the use of a large percentage of high-strength and extra-high-strength steel, which accounts for 40 percent of the body shell. With their three-layer structure, the sturdy front bumpers can withstand minor collisions up to 8 km/h (with the air bag option pack) without damage.
High-strength steel has also been used in the straight front frame side rails with hexagonal cross sections that split to create load paths that can absorb impact energy both in a cross-member positioned below the bulkhead and in members located in the doorsills. These members as well as the connections to the A and B pillars of the body, the pillars themselves, the centre tunnel and the cross structures at the front and rear are also made of high-strength steel.
European-Influenced Ride and Handling
The chassis of the SRV has undergone rigorous validation, notching up nearly 2 million kilometres of testing. In combination with its torsion-resistant body, this ensures excellent handling and a high level of active safety. Handling and ride are enhanced further through a sophisticated independent suspension with McPherson struts on both axles. The lower wheel control at the front is taken care of by an A-frame arm, while two additional wishbones and one trailing arm at the back link the wheels precisely to the chassis.
The European influence in the SRV’s development is evident in the ride and comfort of the Sportsback. One of the targets set by the development team was to measure up against the very best in the market segment – particularly in preventing noise and vibration. The chassis settings of the car were based on intensive development and testing in the United Kingdom to meet the demands and preferences of users.
“The SRV serves as a continuation of our strategy of leveraging GM’s unmatched global resources to aggressively roll out new products that serve the changing needs of the market and our customers,” said Chaba.
This Premium Sportsback is the second of three new Chevrolet products entering the market this year as the Chevrolet India Revolution rolls on. It follows the successful launch of the Chevrolet Aveo. In addition, GM India recently introduced the upgraded Chevrolet Tavera Neo.
To enhance the customer experience, GM India is expanding its dealership network this year from the present 85 sales points to 110 sales points. In addition, two new parts distribution centres have been set up this year in Maharashtra and Delhi to supplement the two original centres in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This is ensuring the ready availability of parts. GM also continues the extensive localization of its products in order to reduce the price of key components.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Aveo at its facility in Halol, Gujarat.
Contact:
Sandeep Raj Singh / Vishwajeet Ganpate, Hanmer & Partners, New Delhi
Tel: 011 – 55960373 Email:sandeepsingh@hanmerpr.com / vishwajeet@hanmerpr.com
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('29', '', 'GM India Launches Chevrolet Tavera NEO', 'Drives MUV Segment to a New Level
New Delhi, 26th June 2006:General Motors India today launched the NEO series of the Chevrolet Tavera. With improved interiors and new seating options the NEO range of Tavera offers an unmatched range of options in terms of features and seating configurations to customers. Earlier this year, the Tavera had undergone several technical upgrades leading to additional 3rd row occupant space and comfort.
“The Chevrolet Tavera NEO represents an extension of GM’s commitment to exceed customer expectations in our products and services. Our new offering raises the bar in terms of additional features and product attributes in its segment based on consumer feedback. It also offers unmatched level of choice of seating options and features” said Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director of GM India.
The Tavera NEO has been given an interior facelift with a number of value additions. The most striking change in Tavera NEO is the look and feel of its interiors. There is a complete make-over given to bring complete harmony in the interiors. The dashboard has now got a two tone Coffee + Beige design which is complemented by premium range of new seat fabrics which also go into the door trims. These shades have been carefully selected to avoid dangerous reflection. In addition customers now have option of 7 seater Captain seats with leather upholstery on the top end variant which is fully loaded. The Captain seat layout has arm rests and adjustable lumbar support for 1st as well as 2nd row occupants along with sliding and reclining feature on 2nd row of seats. This variant is also available in an exclusive new ‘Champagne Metallic’ colour. The NEO range has a new variant (LT) with three row air conditioning on which too the option of 7 seater Captain seats will be available. This variant too has been created based on market feedback that premium personal segment users prefer a dual AC for greater comfort on long drives. The Neo range with the new look interiors and new seating options will take the customer experience to a new level.
The NEO range starts at a price of Rs. 7.26 lacs (ex-showroom Delhi). It offers a range of seating and trim options to choose from. The product upgrades are the result of feedback from dealer bodies and “Customer Meets” all over the country and are the results of in house engineering capabilities of the company, said Mr. Chaba.
All Tavera variants also benefit from the MY 06 changes which result in more seating space for 3rd row occupants in addition to new features which enhance its appeal to the personal and commercial segment users. These changes are effected not only in top end variants but also across all variants based on the ‘Voice of the Customer’.
Increased 3rd row seating space is the result of extensive re-engineering of the chassis and floor pan. The new value additions are available across all personal and commercial application variants. To enhance appeal to the personal segment, there is an improved gear shift with reduced gear shift travel besides a new MP3 music system. All variants that don’t have the dual AC have a Tilt Quarter window in the 3rd row area which provides better air circulation for 3rd row passengers.
The new generation turbo diesel powerhouse in the Tavera provides Best in Class Fuel Efficiency thereby mitigating the impact of increased fuel prices. The direct injection engine has no turbo lag and responds eagerly with Insta Torque, the moment you press the accelerator. That, of course, means no loss of power, no idling and certainly no waiting after start and before shut down, said Chaba,
Tavera’s great performance comes as no surprise to the discerning buyer as the vehicle had undergone rigorous tests on its engine, air-conditioning and suspension before the launch. Several prototypes were put through over 6 lakh kilometres in long-term tests and torture track tests in India and abroad. The air conditioning has been specifically tested in hot desert conditions at places like Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
The Tavera’s suspension is specially designed to heighten the comfort of its plush interior, while giving it the ruggedness of an SUV. It is crafted to suit the most testing Indian road conditions. Thoughtful vehicle dimensions and wider tyres also make for a smoother riding experience and better control.
The Tavera comes with the assurance of low maintenance and running costs. It gives the comfort of high service interval with long-life components, lower quantities of consumables and a high-life maintenance-free battery. Through extensive localisation, the spares are economically priced and readily available through GM’s widespread distribution network.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Tavera at its facility in Halol, Gujarat.
*************
Contact:
Hanmer & Partners
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New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Times of India): General Motors is stepping on gas in the Indian car bazaar. The car maker on Wednesday unveiled three new cars for the Indian market, including a premium hatchback Aveo U-VA that will be pitted against Maruti’s fast-selling Swift. The firm also announced plans to invest Rs 100 crore over the next one year to increase the car production capacity at its plant in Halol, Gujarat.
The new cars - including a notchback version of Aveo and a sportyback Optra - will be commercially available from March this year. "We plan to start sales only after the Budget to include any excise benefits that might be announced by the government," General Motors India president Rajeev Chaba said. Though the prices of the vehicles were yet to be finalised, sources pointed out that the entry-level Aveo U-VA is expected to sport a tag of around Rs 4.25-4.5 lakh. "The entire vehicle range, including the two Aveos and the sporty Optra, will be priced in the Rs 4.25 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh bracket," a source said.
The firm, he said, is building capacity at its Halol plant to meet growing demand in the automobile market. "We will be investing Rs 100 crore to hike the capacity from 60,000 units a year to 80,000 units," Chaba said. "GM regards India as one of the key markets for investments, and we will be more aggressive in our approach now." It is also opening two additional parts distribution centre one each in Maharashtra and Delhi to compliment the existing ones at Halol and Chennai.', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('24', '', 'GMI to raise capacity, launch three models', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Hindustan Times): General Motors India, the Indian arm of US automobile giant, on Wednesday unveiled three new models under Chevrolet brand and said it would raise capacity from 60,000 units to 85,000 by the year end. The expansion at its Halol facility in Gujarat will entail an additional investment of over Rs. 100 crore.
"Chevrolet Aveo U-VA is aimed at offering competition to Hyundai Getz, Maruti Swift, while Honda City, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent will face challenge from Chevrolet Aveo, a notchback. Chevrolet Optra is a new product as a "sportsback" through which General Motors hopes to create a new segment," GMI president and MD Rajeev Chaba told reporters here.
The company has planned a phased launch of the three cars between February and June this year. With this, General Motors will have five offerings, along with Optra and Tavera, to position in the market. "The engine specifications and pricing of the three models will be decided soon. We have the option of 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre engines for the cars," Chaba added.
"All three cars are international products with latest technology and built to our quality standards of the highest order. They have been re-engineered based on extensive testing across the country to meet the specific needs of our customers, local driving conditions and regulations," he stated.
GMI president said, "The Chevrolet was among the fastest growing car brands in India and would push up the company’s sales on a higher trajectory GM regards India as one of the key markets for investments."
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('23', '', 'GM launches Aveo to take on Swift, Getz', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Economic Times): It could tum out to be the third hot hatch in the premium B-seg. General Motors today previewed its Aveo-UVA, a 1.4 litre premium hatch which will "compete aggressively with the Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Getz," said GM India president & CEO Rajeev Chaba. The company also unveiled its 1.6 litre Aveo mid-size sedan and the 1.6 litre Optra SRV sportback. While the three cars will be commercially launched between February and June, the pricing is expected to be aggressive. Company sources say the hatch will target the Swift/Getz range while the notch will target the City/Fiesta.
GM India is also going to spend Rs 100 crore cranking up capacity at its Halol plant from 60,000 units per annum to 85,000 units by the end of this calendar year.
GM is looking at around 20,000 plus units of the premium hatch and 15,000-plus units of the notchback Aveo this calendar year. The company will also increase its distribution footprint by adding another 20-25 dealerships. "This would mean further investment of around Rs 100 crore by our dealers," said Mr Chaba.
To start with, the three models will have around 25-30% local content which will peak at 60% for the two Aveo models and 40-45% for the Optra SRV, Mr Chaba said. As for phasing out the Corsa and Sail hatchbacks, he said: "We will focus on the Aveo now. As we grow and the market evolves, we will look at the feedback on the Corsa and then take a call whether to have both the Aveo and the Corsa or not."
General Motors is looking at total sales of more than 50,000 units this calendar. It docked 30,000-plus units in 2005. The company plans to start off with a 1.4 litre Aveo hatch and will offer all the bells and whistles at the top end from ABS to airbags.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('22', '', 'General Motors unveils Aveo hatchback, sedan', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (The Financial Express): General Motors India on Wednesday unveiled three new cars - the Aveo in a hatchback and sedan versions and a sports back variant of the Chevrolet Optra.
These vehicles are slated to hit Indian roads between February and June as the company has targeted increasing its marketshare in passenger vehicles from 4% now to 10% by 2010.
The company said it will reveal the prices and specifications of the three vehicles closer to their launches. While the premium hatchback, Aveo U-VA would take on die Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Getz, the sedan would take on mid-sized vehicles ranging from die Tata Indigo to the Honda City.
All vehicles will be powered by engines with capacities between 1.4-1.8 litres, company officials said refusing to go into more details. Admitting that GM needs to be more aggressive, president Rajeev Chaba said it was also extending capacity at its Halol plant in Gujarat from 60,000 units to 85,000 units with an investment of Rs 100 crore.
The company is also opening two additional parts distribution centre one each in Maharashtra and Delhi to compliment the existing ones at Halol and Chennai.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('21', '', 'GM to launch 3 new cars', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Business Standard): General Motors India today presented three new cars to be launched in India under the Chevrolet brand between February and June this year. They are: premium hatchback Aveo U-VA, premium sedan Aveo and Optra SRV (sports recreational vehicle).
GMI, which is the Indian subsidiary of world’s largest auto company General Motors, has under 3 percent of the Indian market and will be hoping that the new models will bring in volumes, especially the Aveo U-VA, which willbe in the burgeoning segment populated by the likes of Maruti’s Swift and Hyundai’s Getz. Midsize sedan Aveo will compete with the Honda City.
The company said it was looking to corner 10 percent share of the Indian market by 2010, when the size of the market projected to double to 2 million. GMI is expanding capacity at its Halol plant in Gujarat from 60,000 units to 85,000 units with an investment of Rs100 crore.
GMI did not reveal the price or the technical specifications of the new models but said all three would come in petrol engine versions to start with, having engine capacities in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 litre.
Among the existing range of products in the market under the GMI banner, the only volume driven model is its utility vehicle, the Chevrolet Tavera, that sells a little less than 2000 units a month.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('20', '', 'GM rolls out 3 new cars', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Deccan Herald): General Motors India, on Wednesday launched three new cars in the Indian markets, including a premium hatchback.
The three cars are premium Hatchback, Aveo U-VA, Sedan Aveo and sportsback Optra SRV General Motor India President Rajeev Chaba said, GM is extending capacity at its Halol plant in Gujarat from 60,000 units to 85,000 units with an investment of Rs 100 crore.
The company is also opening two additional parts distribution centre one each in Maharashtra and Delhi to compliment the exisiting ones at Halol and Chennai.
Refusing to specify details of the new cars Mr Chaba said the company would carry engine displacements between 1.4 and 1.8 litres.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('19', '', 'GM launches three new cars', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Hindu): General Motors India on Wednesday rolled out three new cars - the premium hatch-back Aveo U-VA, Sedan Aveo and sportsback Optra SRV - in the Indian markets with its eyes all set to capture a ten percent market share by 2010.
General Motors India President, Rajeev Chaba, on the occasion told media persons that the company was looking at India as one of the key markets for investments and it was going to be more aggressive in its approach.
The company would be making an investment of Rs. 100 crore to enhance the capacity of its plant at Halol in Gujarat from 60,000 units to 85,000 units. It would also be opening two additional parts distribution centres - one each in Maharashtra and Delhi - to complement the existing ones at Halol and Chennai.
Chevrolet, he said, was among the fastest growing car brands in India and would push up the company’s sales on a higher trajectory.
General Motors will be expanding its after-sales service, including spare parts supply, and add new dealerships.
The company has made an investment of about Rs. 125 crore for the assembly line of the three new offerings.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('18', '', 'GM India to roll out 3 new models', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (The Hindu Business Line): General Motors India today unveiled three new cars, which it intends to roll out in the Indian market over the next few months.
The three cars include the premium hatchback Aveo U-VA (which would be positioned against the Hyundai Getz and Suzuki Swift), the mid-size sedan Aveo and sportsback Optra SRV.
Company officials said the new cars (all of which would be sold under the Chevrolet badge) will be launched in the market between February and June 2006 and the pricing of the vehicles would be revealed subsequently.
Auto analysts, however, expect the Aveo U-VA to be priced in the range of Rs 3.8-4.2 lakh while the Aveo would be priced at Rs 6.5-7 lakh.
Engine capacities: Though declining to divulge exact details about the engine capacities of the vehicles, Mr Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, General Motors India, said the new cars would carry petrol engine with displacements varying between 1.4 and 1.8 litre.
Sources however said that while the Aveo U-VA would have an engine displacement of 1.4 litre, the Aveo would carry a 1.6 litre engine. Further, while the Aveo would have a localisation content of 60 per cent, it would be around 45 per cent for the Optra.
"All three cars are international products with latest technology. The Chevrolet Aveo sedan is due for launch in Europe this month and subsequently in China, the US, Canada and other markets like India," Mr Chaba said.
The Aveo sedan is expected to replace the Opel Corsa in India. General Motors is currently selling around 400-500 units of the Corsa (inclusive of the Corsa Sail) every month.
All cars under "Chevrolet": Following the expected phasing out of the Corsa, all vehicles sold by General Motors would be under the Chevrolet badge.
"The Chevrolet was among the fastest growing car brands in India and would push up the company’s sales on a higher trajectory. We are also actively working on ensuring adequate parts availability for the vehicles," Mr Chaba said.
The company is opening two additional parts distribution centre, one each in Maharashtra and Delhi, to complement the existing ones at Halol and Chennai.
Expansion: General Motors is also expanding capacity at its Halol plant in Gujarat from 60,000 units to 85,000 units with an investment of Rs 100 crore. When asked whether the company was considering to set up another greenfield plant in the country, Mr Chaba said all alternatives were being studied and no decision had been taken on the same.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('17', '', 'GM rolls out 3 new cars in India', 'New Delhi, Jan 19, 2006 (Statesman): The American automobile major, General Motors (GM) India, has today announced the launch of three new cars in Indian markets, including a premium hatchback and claimed that the company was looking to capture 10 per cent of the market share by 2010.
The three cars launched by the company arc the premium hatchback, Aveo U-VA, Sedan Aveo and sports back Optra SRV.
GM India president, Mr Rajeev Chaba, said, "The Chevrolet was among the fastest growing car brands in India and would push up the company’s sales on a higher trajectory," adding that the company would be more aggressive in its approach.
', ''); rowLine++; newsSpecification[rowLine] = new newItem('16', '', 'GM India inaugurates its dealership in Allahabad', 'Allahabad, July 11, 2005: General Motors India today inaugurated its dealership in Allahabad at a function presided over by its President & Managing Director Mr. Rajeev Chaba. With the opening of the dealership facility in Allahabad, M/s Eldee Motors. located at Sardar Patel Marg, the company has showcased all its products including the much sought after Multi Utility Vehicle Chevrolet Tavera, New Year Edition of Chevrolet Optra and the Opel Corsa in the new dealership. It now has a combined strength of 7dealerships in Uttar Pradesh alone, thus taking the overall tally to 72 sales points and 82 service outlets across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajeev Chaba said “we are indeed pleased to have our facility in Allahabad to support the ever expanding number of loyal GM India customers in Uttar Pradesh. He said, GM India is in the process of appointing more dealers and authorized service outlets in urban and semi-urban cities to widen its network with the launch of the most sought after multi utility vehicle Chevrolet Tavera which has been described as the comfortable family car for the people of this region. By end of this year, we intend to put in place 90 sales points and nearly 100 service outlets across the country.
“The New Look Chevrolet Optra show-cased at the dealership represents an extension of GM’s commitment to exceed customer expectations in our products and services. With new styling and additional comfort, convenience, safety and luxury features, our new offering takes India’s entire midsize sedan segment to a new level and raises the bar in terms of value for money in its segment,” he added.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand has won yet another laurel with BS Motoring naming it "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004", while Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) launched last year has won Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" Award. Besides TAVERA, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury Sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards todate.
Thanks to the growing popularity of its vehicles Chevrolet Tavera, Optra and Opel Corsa,
General Motors India sold 15297 cars between January and June 2005 as compared to 10737 in the first six months last year to record a 42.5% growth in YTD sales. These included 9703 units of Tavera, 3638 Optras, 1932 Corsas and 24 Foresters. The company recently ramped up the production capacity at its Halol facility to 60,000 units to meet the growing demand.
About the new facility Mr. Chaba said, “As part of GM India’s commitment to deliver automobiles that conform to GM global quality standards, this facility signifies our move from a single brand to multi-brand manufacturing and retailing. The inauguration of the dealership in the city is part of the effort of General Motors India to provide ample opportunities to customers of this region to experience and buy a vehicle of their choice from a wide range of products from its stable.”
“We are proud to be associated with Mr. Vikas Agarwal. to run our multi-brand facility at Allahabad. I am confident that under the able leadership and guidance of Mr Vikas Agarwal this dealership will set new levels in customer service and satisfaction,” Mr. Chaba added. The dealership at Allahabad is one of the many facilities that have been established across the country under the new concept of GM Multi-Brand Franchise to retail the wide range of Chevrolet & Opel brands of cars offered by GM India.
The new dealership is also equipped to provide unmatched services and ambience to its customers. A wide range of exclusive accessories will also be on display for customers’ benefit. Additionally, a team of GM trained engineers will always be available at the ultra modern workshop with latest garage tools and tackles, diagnostic equipment, ultra modern body repair shop and computerised facilities for attending to every need of the GM customers from the region.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, July 07, 2005: In an innovative promotional strategy to celebrate the second anniversary of Chevrolet Optra, General Motors India today offered buyers of the celebrated luxury sedan a chance to grab all the gold in a minute from Tanishq, the leading national jeweller.
“The Optra Gold Rush is a double bonanza for the customers as it offers them an opportunity to buy a highly applauded car and win exquisite jewellery, for their loved ones”, Amit Dutta, Vice President –Marketing, Sales and Aftersales said announcing the scheme.
To join the Gold Rush, all that one has to do is to buy any model of Chevrolet Optra from any of the General Motors showrooms across India before August 31. With this purchase, one is automatically included in a weekly Bumper Draw that entitles the winners to take home as much jewellery from a Tanishq showroom as they can grab in one minute!
But whether one emerges trumps in the weekly draw or not, it’s a win-win deal for all. All the buyers in any case will receive a gift voucher worth Rs. 30,000/- that can be redeemed at any Tanishq showroom. In addition, over a hundred ‘25 % discount jewellery coupons’ from Tanishq can be won.
“Jewellery is an intrinsic part of Indian lifestyle and the promotional offer is an extension of Chevrolet’s brand promise that celebrates the special journey called life. Tanishq jewellery is known for elegance and exclusivity and forms the perfect companion for Chevrolet Optra, a car that has been hailed in India and internationally for its style, performance and luxury,” Dutta said.
A landmark creation from the house of Italian designer specialist, Pininfarina, Optra is the only car in the segment to be honoured with 5 prestigious awards including the ‘BBC Wheels Car Of The Year’ and ‘CNBC Viewers Choice’ as well as ‘Value for Money Car’ award by CNBC – Autocar in a short span of just one year. The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with new styling and additional comfort, convenience, safety and luxury features and with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants has been a resounding success with customers.
Truly an international car, the Optra is today sold in over 100 countries across the globe. Since its launch, over 17,000 Optras have been sold in India so far.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Optra, GM India manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra in addition to the Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, July 01, 2005: General Motors India sales registered a growth of over 42 percent in first half of 2005 as compared to same period last year.
Selling 15297 cars between January and June 2005 as compared to 10737 in the first six months last year, the company recorded a 42.5% growth in YTD sales. These included 9703 units of Tavera, 3638 Optra, 1932 Corsa and 24 Foresters.
General Motors India sold 2183 cars in June’05 as against 2418 cars in the same month last year as unprecedented rains and floods in Baroda disrupted production and dispatches in the month end. Its sales for the month included 1461 Taveras, 404 Chevrolet Optra, 315 Opel Corsas and 3 units of imported Forester SUV. Said Amit Dutta, Vice President – Marketing, Sales & Aftersales, General Motors India, “We lost sales of around 300 units as rains and floods hit our production and dispatches towards the month end.”
The GM Service Plus programme piloted in NCR from end May has been a resounding success with customers. As part of this programme, dealer workshops are open 24x7 to service cars. In addition the innovation of a 3 hour quick service which guarantees refund of service charges to customers in case the time limit is exceeded has been a big hit. Over 500 customers have availed of this service and a random survey of this lot indicates that they have rated this innovation as excellent.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand of the Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
Bangalore, June 06, 2005: Two stunning modern faces of the popular Chevrolet brand are on a four-month India tour to let auto connoisseurs experience the magic of one of the world’s most popular sports cars, the legendary Chevrolet Corvette and the joys of the new Chevrolet SSR - a roadster pick-up that changes into a convertible in less than 30 seconds.
Establishing the long and illustrious heritage of Chevrolet in the USA, the cars warmed the hearts of car lovers at Mumbai Motor Show from February 25 to 28. A special 40-foot trailer is now taking them for display in several cities across the country to celebrate the second anniversary of Chevrolet brand’s entry into India.
Besides Bangalore, the cars will be on display at GM showrooms in Delhi and NCR, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Hyderabad before sailing for home from Mumbai Port in the first week of July. In Bangalore, one can see the cars at Sundaram Motors (June 5-7) and Garuda Autocraft Pvt Ltd. (June 8-11).
Powered by a 400-hp, 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 engine, Corvette C6 has Standard 4-speed automatic transmission, Optional 6-speed manual transmission, Active Handling System, Optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control System, Cloth convertible top in Black or Light Oak with heated glass window, Vinyl convertible top in White with heated glass window and Largest convertible trunk in its class.
The new Chevrolet SSR, part roadster and part pickup is considered Pure Joyride –a vehicle that transforms from a fully enclosed roadster to convertible in less than 30 seconds. Standard features include a 390-horsepower, LS2 6.0 Liter aluminium-block V8 engine. An available six-speed manual transmission. A power retractable hardtop, cast-aluminium 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. And a rear five-link rear suspension.
“The year 2004 saw a love affair blooming between the American legend Chevy and India. More new and exciting Chevrolet products specifically designed for the Indian market are in the pipeline and new initiatives are afoot to make Chevrolet the most admired and preferred vehicle brand in India just like it is in market after market around the globe,” said Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director of GM India.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand has been named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) launched in 2004 year has won Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" Award. Chevrolet flagship model, Optra and Forester AWD have between them won seven automotive excellence awards.
The latest Chevrolet product, Tavera, a multi utility vehicle launched in June 2004, has been reengineered and tailored for India. Contemporary styling with clear lens headlamps and tail lamps give the Tavera a stylish look to match its versatility and performance, thereby adding to its great appeal as a family MUV. Branded as the “Comfortable Family Car”, it’s available in six variants.
Launched in India in late July 2003, the Chevrolet Optra has emerged as a market leader in its segment. Penned by world-renowned Italian design house Pininfarina, it’s a gracefully proportioned vehicle with a distinctive European flair. The four-door notchback luxury sedan is manufactured domestically by GM India.
The Chevrolet Forester SUV was designed and is built by Japanese all-wheel-drive specialist Fuji Heavy Industries, a global partner of GM. Since its introduction in India in February 2003, it has proven to be a very attractive alternative to D-segment cars and for those looking for a vehicle with performance-oriented SUV traits.
Chevrolet was established in 1909 by William Durant, the founder of General Motors and Louis Chevrolet, a leading race ar driver. In 1911, the first Chevrolet rolled off the assembly line. Over the years, Chevrolet has become and remains one of the best-selling brands of cars and trucks not only in North America but also around the world. Last year, more than 3.5 million Chevrolets were sold worldwide.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, June 01, 2005: General Motors India registered a nearly 64 percent growth in May 2005 as compared to last year as Chevrolet Tavera, winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, sold 1610 units in May to take its tally to 16,659 mark within a year of its mid-2004 launch.
The global auto major sold 2503 cars in May as against 1527 cars in the same month last year to record a growth of 63.92% in monthly sales. Besides Tavera, these included 615 Chevrolet Optras, 274 Opel Corsas and four units of imported Forester SUV.
Selling 13114 cars between January and May 2005 as compared to 8319 in the first five months last year, the company recorded a 57.64 % growth in YTD sales. These included 8242 units of Tavera, 3234 Optras, 1617 Corsas and 21 Foresters.
Tavera’s impressive fuel performance (ranked as “Best in Class mileage” by on mileage by Overdrive magazine (June 2004). 14.3kmpl) has been a key contributor to its growing popularity. The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants too has been a resounding success with customers.
Upbeat about the Tavera success story, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India said, “To keep pace with the ever growing demand for Taveras and other Chevy cars, we are further ramping up production capacity at our Halol facility to 80,000 units after the recent hike to 60,000 units.”
“On the anvil are several other initiatives like the recently launched industry first GM Service Plus offering 24/7 workshop facility and a ‘Free after 3 service’, to make owning a GM vehicle an even more pleasurable experience,” he added.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, May18, 2005: General Motors India today announced the launch of an industry first new customer service programme - the GM Service Plus - a cluster of unique services that are designed to broaden the smile on the faces of the ever growing family of GM car owners, be it a Chevrolet or an Opel.
To kick-start this venture, the company today introduced the ‘Free After 3’ programme, an exclusive service initiative promising great value and convenience, where customers can have their car serviced in exactly 3 hours – as you shop at a mall or watch a Bollywood potboiler if you like - or get it for free. Starting with the National Capital Region (NCR), it will be extend to other cities in the coming days.
Developed after in-depth customer research, these new services would help GM customers keep their vehicles in shape, provide help at hand and ensure complete peace of mind in today’s fast paced world.
“This shows we care for our customer and are responsive to his needs,” said Mr. Amit Dutta, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Aftersales noting that the initiative has come within weeks of the company ramping up production capacity at its Halol facility to 60,000 units to meet the growing demand for its cars.
Besides the ‘Free After 3’ Service, the ‘GM Service Plus’ range of services encompass the following:
24-hour workshops: An all-day service centre where customers can get their car serviced when they use it the least.
Genuine parts and accessories: A host of affordable parts and accessories guaranteed by General Motors.
Optional Warranty: Ensures continued protection beyond the standard warranty of the car.
Preferred insurance: A comprehensive insurance cover that comes with a range of value-added services from our insurance partners.
GM reach: With over 80 service centres in 65 cities, a customer is assured of great services no matter where he travels in India.
To bring home the advantages of the revolutionary ‘Free After 3’ Service, General Motors has planned a multi-media publicity blitz of print, outdoor and direct marketing campaigns.
Print and outdoor campaigns will target movie theatres, shopping malls, airports and restaurants to show how one can squeeze out more time for fun and work by doing two things at once - as the car gets serviced.
Direct mailers are also being sent to customers with complimentary movie tickets or dinner vouchers as added incentives to try out the new service, while GM service teams in their new Service Plus apparels, caps and badges themselves are abuzz with excitement at this opportunity to serve their customers better.
Like the 24/7 GM help line launched recently, the new service initiatives are just a phone call away to one unique number – 30308080 – across the country.
To take advantage of the unique ‘Free after three challenge’, the customer has to just book his car in advance at a GM ’Quick Service’ workshops. As you drive in at the appointed hour, the clock will start ticking as soon as the job card is opened. A special team including two skilled and specially trained technicians and two washer men will then get on the job quickly procuring the necessary spares and consumables and working at special ‘Quick Service’ bays with separate infrastructure and facilities. If the workshop fails to deliver on time, customers need not pay any labour charges.
GM Service has worked out some innovative floor management techniques to ensure that cars taken in for ‘Quick Service’ do not interfere with the regular workshop traffic. Visual identification of all cars taken in for ‘Quick Service’, at all levels in the workshop will hold the key. This will be achieved by using ‘Danglers’ and ‘Priority Caps’, specially designed for the activity.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, May 03, 2005: General Motors India registered an over 58 percent growth in April 2005 as compared to last year as Chevrolet Tavera, winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, sold 1603 units in April to cross the 15,000 mark within 11 months of its mid-2004 launch.
The global auto major sold 2214 cars in April as against 1401 cars in the same month last year to record a growth of 58.03% in monthly sales. Besides Tavera, these included 406 units of Chevrolet Optra and 200 units of Opel Corsa. April sales pushed the Tavera tally to 15,049 cars.
Selling 10611 cars between January and April 2005 as compared to 6792 in the first four months last year, the company recorded a 56.23 % growth in YTD sales. These included 6632 units of Tavera, 2619 Optras and 1343 Corsas.
Upbeat about the company’s performance, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India said, “With the demand for our cars growing at a fast pace, we have not only ramped up production capacity at our Halol facility to 60,000 units, but are also working on several other initiatives to make owning a GM vehicle an even more pleasurable experience.”
Tavera’s impressive fuel performance (ranked as “best in class mileage” by Autocar – 14.3kmpl) has been a key contributor to its growing popularity. The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants too has been a resounding success with customers.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, April 29, 2005: General Motors Asia Pacific today announced the appointment of Rajeev Chaba to president and managing director, GM India, effective June 1. Chaba will replace Aditya Vij, who assumes new responsibilities in the GM Europe organization as executive director, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, GM Norden, Benelux and Switzerland.
Since September 2003, Chaba has served as chief operating officer of GM India, responsible for the day to day operations of the company. Prior to this, he served as director, Sales and Marketing, GM Japan where he facilitated restructuring of the GM business including significantly increasing the sales of Suzuki produced Chevrolet Cruz.
“Rajeev brings diverse business experience to GM India, including significant global experience,” said Troy Clarke, GM group vice president and president, GM Asia Pacific. “His exceptional leadership skills will play a key role in building upon the foundation set up by Aditya in an extremely important market for the company.”
Chaba began his career at GM India in 1995 as national marketing manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in business administration from IIM Bangalore. Prior to joining GM, he worked for a large automotive group in the United Arab Emirates based at Dubai.
In his new assignment, Vij will have overall responsibility for managing GM business in the Scandinavian markets, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Switzerland. He will be based in Stockholm, Sweden.
“We greatly appreciate the excellent job that Aditya has done during his tenure at GM India,” Clarke said. “Aditya directed the successful launch of Chevrolet in the country and consequently, GM India has grown in importance to the company under his leadership. We wish him continued success in his new assignment”
Vij began his career at GM 14 years ago and has held various positions with increasing responsibilities both in Europe and Asia. He was appointed president and managing director of GM India in August 2000.
Vij holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Delhi University, India and is a fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants, India. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
About GM
General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer employs 325,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s history. GM Asia Pacific is GM’s fastest-growing region encompassing 13 countries. In 2004, GM sold 887,000 vehicles in Asia, up 16 percent from the prior year.
New Delhi, April 25, 2005: As part of the ongoing customer loyalty initiatives, General Motors India today announced yet another loyalty scheme for its customers. GMI has from time to time been rewarding its existing customers through various initiatives like Mileage rallies, interior enhancement packages, special events like movie premiers, associations with Tanishq, Taj Holidays etc.
This time round the exclusive loyalty scheme offers a bonus of Rs. 20,000 on purchase of the Chevrolet Optra NY edition. Being offered on a first come first serve basis, a select 100 customers will be eligible to avail this offer. The limited period offer ends on June 30 2005.
“The new offer seeks to reward select GM customers for their brand loyalty with this valuable offer. Initiatives like this have been hugely appreciated and resulted in building positive word of mouth and generating goodwill for the brand.” said Mr. Rajeev Chaba, Chief Operating Officer, GM India.
“We have already ramped up production capacity to 60,000 units at our Halol facility to meet the growing demand for our cars. The increased capacity would help to quickly clear the backlog of popular Chevrolet vehicles,” he added.
The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with new styling and additional comfort, convenience, safety and luxury features and with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants has been a resounding success with customers.
Truly an international car, the Optra is today sold in over 100 countries across the globe. Since launch in July 2003, over 15650 units of the car have been sold in India, including 9191 in 2004, helping the company to record a 73 percent annual growth. Another 2213 Optras have been sold in the first quarter of 2005.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Three Chevy products Optra Luxury sedan, Tavera MUV and Forester SUV have between them cornered eight awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, April 1, 2005: General Motors India sold 3516 cars in March, its highest ever monthly volume since inception. Compared to same month last year, March 2005 sales registered a 35 percent growth. For the Jan-March 2005 quarter, sales volume of 8397 cars was a healthy 56 per cent growth over the same period last year.
March sales numbers included Chevrolet Tavera – 1905 units, Chevrolet Optra - 1101 units and Opel Corsa – 506 units. Chevrolet Tavera clocked its highest ever monthly sales since launch. Within 10 months from launch, Chevrolet Tavera, winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, has rapidly notched sales of 13450 units. Its impressive fuel performance (ranked as “best in class mileage” by Autocar – 14.3kmpl) has been a key contributor to its growing popularity. The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants has been a resounding success with customers.
Upbeat about the impressive growth in Jan – March 2005, Mr. Amit Dutta, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Aftersales said, “We are ramping up production capacity to 60,000 units at our Halol facility to meet the growing demand for our cars. The increased capacity would help to quickly clear the backlog of popular Chevrolet vehicles.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, March 30, 2005: Two stunning modern faces of the popular Chevrolet brand are on a four-month India tour to let auto connoisseurs experience the magic of one of the world’s most popular sports cars, the legendary Chevrolet Corvette and the joys of the new Chevrolet SSR - a roadster pick-up that changes into a convertible in less than 30 seconds.
Establishing the long and illustrious heritage of Chevrolet in the USA, the cars warmed the hearts of car lovers at Mumbai Motor Show from February 25 to 28. A special 40-foot trailer is now taking them for display in several cities across the country to celebrate the second anniversary of Chevrolet brand’s entry into India.
The cars will be on display at GM showrooms Delhi and NCR (Mar 28 – May 2), Ludhiana (May 6 –9), Chandigarh (May 11-14) Ahmedabad (May 20- 24), Bangalore (May 30 – June 7), Chennai (June 10-18) and Hyderabad (June 22–30) before sailing for home from Mumbai Port in the first week of July.
In Delhi, one can see the cars at British Motors (Mar 28-April 1), Apex Auto Gurgaon (April 2- 7), MGF Mall Gurgaon (April 8-10), Shiva Motors Noida (April 12-17), Autovikas (April 18-22), Regent Auto (April 23-27) and T& T Motors (April 28- May 2).
Powered by a 400-hp, 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 engine, Corvette C6 has Standard 4-speed automatic transmission, Optional 6-speed manual transmission, Active Handling System, Optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control System, Cloth convertible top in Black or Light Oak with heated glass window, Vinyl convertible top in White with heated glass window and Largest convertible trunk in its class.
The new Chevrolet SSR, part roadster and part pickup is considered Pure Joyride –a vehicle that transforms from a fully enclosed roadster to convertible in less than 30 seconds. Standard features include a 390-horsepower, LS2 6.0 Liter aluminium-block V8. An available six-speed manual transmission. A power retractable hardtop, cast-aluminium 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. And a rear five-link rear suspension.
“The year 2004 saw a love affair blooming between the American legend Chevy and India. More new and exciting Chevrolet products specifically designed for the Indian market are in the pipeline and new initiatives are afoot to make Chevrolet the most admired and preferred vehicle brand in India just like it is in market after market around the globe,” said Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director of GM India.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand has been named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) launched in 2004 year has won Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" Award. Chevrolet flagship model, Optra and Forester AWD have between them won seven automotive excellence awards.
The latest Chevrolet product, Tavera, a multi utility vehicle launched in June 2004, has been reengineered and tailored for India. Contemporary styling with clear lens headlamps and tail lamps give the Tavera a stylish look to match its versatility and performance, thereby adding to its great appeal as a family MUV. Branded as the “Comfortable Family Car”, it’s available in six variants.
Launched in India in late July 2003, the Chevrolet Optra has emerged as a market leader in its segment. Penned by world-renowned Italian design house Pininfarina, it’s a gracefully proportioned vehicle with a distinctive European flair. The four-door notchback luxury sedan is manufactured domestically by GM India.
The Chevrolet Forester SUV was designed and is built by Japanese all-wheel-drive specialist Fuji Heavy Industries, a global partner of GM. Since its introduction in India in February 2003, it has proven to be a very attractive alternative to D-segment cars and for those looking for a vehicle with performance-oriented SUV traits.
Chevrolet was established in 1909 by William Durant, the founder of General Motors and Louis Chevrolet, a leading race ar driver. In 1911, the first Chevrolet rolled off the assembly line. Over the years, Chevrolet has become and remains one of the best-selling brands of cars and trucks not only in North America but also around the world. Last year, more than 3.5 million Chevrolets were sold worldwide.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, March 14, 2005: Chevrolet, the American legend that has caught the fancy of discerning auto lovers in India is celebrating the second anniversary of its arrival in India in style with a series of Chevrolet Mileage rallies across the country starting with one in the national capital on Sunday. It will be followed by another rally in Mumbai next Sunday.
Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India gave away the prizes to the winners of the competitive "Best Mileage Car" section of the rally. Selected through a draw of lots from Chevrolet customers in the National Capital Region, 50 proud Chevy owners in their magnificent machines participated in the rally from Delhi to Wet-N-Wild resort, Manesar on NH-8 on Sunday.
“Looking at the success of the Chevrolet in India, I am confident it will substantiate GMs impetus to consolidate its presence in the Indian market and the Asian region. True to GM’s vision, we intend to make Chevrolet the most admired and preferred automotive brand in India,” said Mr. Chaba
The winners were:
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Flagged off on Sunday morning by Mr. Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director General Motors India, the Chevrolet rally has been organized by GM India with support from NCR dealers. GMI’s business associates like ICICI Bank, BPCL, 3 M, ICI Paints, ELF, Autocop and Bank of Punjab participated as co-sponsors.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand has been named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. While Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) launched last year has won Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" Award, two other Chevy products Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them already won seven awards earlier.
GM India also plans to launch an exciting range of vehicles specifically designed for the Indian market under the Chevrolet brand which complements its brand portfolio in India by offering superior value exceeding the expectations of the customers in terms of product performance, styling and quality.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, March 13, 2005: Chevrolet, the American legend that has caught the fancy of discerning auto lovers in India is celebrating the second anniversary of its arrival in India in style with a series of Chevrolet Mileage rallies across the country starting with one in the national capital on Sunday. It will be followed by another rally in Mumbai next Sunday.
The Delhi rally was flagged off on Sunday morning by Mr. Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director General Motors India, from Car Care Center (BPCL fuel station) on Lodhi Road after registration and getting their fuel tanks filled up and sealed for the competitive "Best Mileage Car" section.
“Looking at the success of the Chevrolet in India, I am confident it will substantiate GMs impetus to consolidate its presence in the Indian market and the Asian region. True to GM’s vision, we intend to make Chevrolet the most admired and preferred automotive brand in India,” said Mr. Vij.
Selected through a draw of lots from Chevrolet customers in the National Capital Region, the 50 finalists in their magnificent Chevies then vended their way over the rally route towards Gurgaon. The cars were refueled at Shahid Bijender fuel station on NH-8 after traveling about 80 Kms for calculating the Mileage. All participants then proceeded to Wet-N-Wild resort, Manesar on NH-8 for a gala time with a sumptuous lunch and lively entertainment including performances by “Joshilay”, a renowned music troupe and unending fun and games for the participants and their families.
The Chevrolet rally has been organized by GM India with support from NCR dealers. GMI’s business associates like ICICI Bank, BPCL, 3 M, ICI Paints, ELF, Autocop and Bank of Punjab participated as co-sponsors.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand has been named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. While Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) launched last year has won Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" Award, two other Chevy products Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them already won seven awards earlier.
GM India also plans to launch an exciting range of vehicles specifically designed for the Indian market under the Chevrolet brand which complements its brand portfolio in India by offering superior value exceeding the expectations of the customers in terms of product performance, styling and quality.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, March 09, 2005: General Motors India has launched the New Look Opel Corsa with new styling and additional comfort, convenience and safety. Redefining value for money proposition, it has a host of incremental exquisite features including a unique rear reading lamp and an instrument cluster dimmer, one of the first of its kind in its segment.
“The New Look Opel Corsa represents an extension of GM’s commitment to exceed customer expectations in our products and services. Our new offering raises the bar in terms of value for money in its segment,” said Aditya Vij, President & 0Managing Director of GM India.
Available at prices ranging from Rs 447,468/- (ex showroom Delhi) for Corsa Sail to Rs 560,924 for Corsa 1.6 GLS, the New Year Edition of Corsa offers features like:
In addition to the above features, Opel Corsa has a change in the transmission too. The gearshift mechanism has been improved leading to reduced shifting effort and precise gear throws, thus a comfortable drive for the customers in city where gear changes are frequent.
The Corsa is an ideal city car with unique "space share design" having excellent interior space that is amongst the roomiest in its class. The compact exteriors provide for low turning radius ensuring easy manoeuvrability while its powerful engine makes you stay ahead of the traffic with ease.
Opel and Chevrolet are some of the strongest brand names in the automotive industry in India today. Both these brands Chevrolet and Opel stand for quality, reliability, safety, innovation, environment-friendliness and customer care.
In 2004, the company sold over 26,000 cars to record a 73% percent growth in annual sales. To make 2005 an even more eventful year, General Motors India is working on several programmes that will enable the launch of special editions and exciting marketing events.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Optra, GM India manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra in addition to the Chevrolet Forester.
Ramps up Production capacity to 60,000 Units
New Delhi, March 2, 2005: General Motors India registered a 42 percent growth in February 2005 as compared to last year, while its YTD sales went up by over 75 per cent.
The global auto major sold 1859 cars in February as against 1309 cars in the same month last year to record a growth of 42.02% in monthly sales. Winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, Chevrolet Tavera sold 1300 units in February to take its tally to 11,541 since its mid-2004 launch. The February sales included 350 units of Chevrolet Optra and 207 units of Opel Corsa.
Selling 4881 cars in January and February combined as compared to 2786 last year, the company recorded a 75.2 % growth in YTD sales, while Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) had crossed the 10,000-car milestone in January within seven months of its launch.
Upbeat about the company’s performance, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India said, “We are ramping up production capacity to 60,000 units at our Halol facility to meet the growing demand for our cars. Once commissioned later this month, we would be able to quickly clear the backlog of popular Chevrolet vehicles like Tavera and Optra. We are also working on several other programmes to make 2005 an eventful year for the company.”
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.
New Delhi, February 1, 2005: Thanks to the growing popularity of the Chevrolet and Opel brands, General Motors India sold more than twice as many cars in January 2005 as it did in the same month last year, while Chevrolet Tavera, a new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) has sold over 10,000 cars in a little over seven months.
Selling 3022 cars in the first month of the year as against 1477 cars in January last year, the company registered a growth of 104.6% in monthly sales. Winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, Chevrolet Tavera sold 1824 units in January to take its tally to 10,241 since its mid-2004 launch. The January sales included 762 units of Chevrolet Optra and 430 units of Opel Corsa.
Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.
Upbeat about the company’s performance, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India said, “To meet the growing demand for our cars, we are ramping up production at our Halol facility to provide world class vehicles made in India to the discerning Indian consumer. We are also working on several programmes to make 2005 an eventful year for the company.”
GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India manufactures the Chevrolet Tavera, Opel Corsa, Opel Corsa Sail and Opel Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.