Chevrolet mini car in India by end 2009

General Motors India will unveil its much hyped small car by the end of 2009.

The model, called the Chevrolet mini car, will be launched in both petrol and diesel versions.

The Economic Times has reported that GM India’s Chevrolet mini car might be priced around Rs 4 lakh, which means it will cost a tad above the Chevrolet Spark, which is priced between Rs 2.6 and Rs 3.4 lakhs.

The company also plans to make the engine for the Chevrolet mini car at its India facility, by the middle of 2010, at its factory at Talegaon, Maharashtra, and Halol in Gujarat. The total annual capacity of the two plants is 2.25 lakhs.

Meanwhile, reports say that even before its engines are made in India, the Chevrolet mini car will have a localisation of around 65 per cent.

GM India had reported sales of 5,001 in March 2009, compared to the 6,836 units it sold in March 2008.

In March 2009, total sales included Chevrolet Tavera’s 1,163 units, Chevrolet Aveo’s 245 units, Chevrolet Optra’s 218 units, Aveo U-VA’s 501 units, Chevrolet Spark’s 2,793 units, and Chevrolet Captiva’s 81 units.

While GM India’s sales slumped by 26 per cent in March 2009, compared to March 2008, there was a 1.5 per cent increase in March 2009 compared to February 2009.

The Economic Times has reported that GM India will launch its GM Cruise saloon, in the price range of Rs 12-13 lakhs.

The company expects the sales to go up when the liquidity position looks up and interest rates slump in a few months’ time. To enthuse more buyers, the company
has also launched a plan to upgrade the Chevrolet Captiva. It plans to launch the Chevrolet Cruze in India, by September 2009.

GM India recently signed an MoU with the government of Maharashtra, to set up a new power train production facility in its Talegaon plant, in Maharashtra. It will pump in $200 million, initially, in the new facility.