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Our Bureau

Halol (Gujarat) , Dec. 5

The first Chevrolet Aveo U-Va, General Motor India's premium hatchback car, rolled off the production line at the company's manufacturing facility here on Tuesday. The President and Managing Director, Mr Rajeev Chaba, said that the company plans to launch the second, cheaper mini-car in the second quarter of 2007.

The company is also set to increase production capacity of the plant from the current 65,000 to 80,000 car units per annum, he told reporters after the roll-out.

The new offering, GM India's third this year after Aveo sedan and SRV premium sportsback, will become available to dealers across India by December-end. It comes in six colours with a 1,200 cc engine.

Describing it as a "global product sold in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific," Mr Chaba said Aveo U-Va will compete with Maruti's Swift and Hyundai's Getz cars in the segment and is likely to be priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. With its combination of modern Italian design, standard features and roomy interiors, the spacious, five-door car sets a new benchmark in its segment, he added.

It has been re-engineered in India to meet the specific needs and driving conditions. Besides expanding its line-up of vehicles, GM India is also expanding its dealership network this year from 85 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 existing centres in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

In 2005, the company sold a total of 30,837 cars as against 26,166 in the year before to record an 18 per cent growth in annual sales, while the overall passenger car growth during the year was only around five per cent. In 2006, the company has set a target of selling 50,000 units.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of GM Corporation, GM India also assembles the Chevrolet Tavera and Chevrolet Optra at its Halol facility near Vadodara.

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