• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

GMI launches Opel Swing; plans aggressive pricing

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, July 3

GENERAL Motors India Ltd (GMI) launched the Opel Swing - the station wagon variant of the Opel Corsa - in the Capital on Tuesday.

The Opel Swing, which has been introduced with two engine options, 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre, has been priced aggressively at Rs 6.21 lakh and Rs 6.67 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

While the existing players such as Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) and Fiat India in the station wagon segment are faced with very low volumes, GMI is hoping that its aggressive pricing and positioning will help generate customer interest.

GMI's strategy has been to position the Opel Swing between the existing mid-size sedans, such as the Ford Ikon ZXi and Hyundai Accent, and the station-wagons, such as the Suzuki Baleno Altura and Fiat Siena Weekend.

This price positioning, the company hopes, will enable it to wean away customers from the mid-size sedans who want to upgrade to a larger more comfortable car and also provide more choice to the station wagon customers.

Speaking at the launch conference here, Mr Aditya Vij, Mr Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director, said that the company is hoping to sell on an average, about 200 units of the Opel Swing every month. For the calender year 2001, GMI is expecting to s ell about 1,000 units.

Mr Vij also felt that the five-door compact station wagon is equipped with all the standard luxury features to meet the changing tastes and lifestyles of the target customers. He mentioned that one of the car's unique selling points was its value for mon ey packaging and compactness, without compromising on interior space.

Among other features, the Swing has a flexi-boot for better utilisation of storage space, raised roof rails, low loading height for baggage, a luggage compartment cover, reinforced suspension and best in class air-conditioning, company officials added. T he car is also being offered with 14-inch alloy wheels as optional fitment.

The Opel Swing is being targeted at customers who want a larger car, but one which can be used to travel both to the office and out of town during weekends. GMI has invested an additional $1.5 million in the modifications and tooling for the Opel Swing a t its manufacturing facility in Halol, near Baroda.

GMI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation of the US, also plans to introduce new models from the parent's varied stable of products. Mr Vij said that GMI is currently studying the type of products that could be introduced in the Indian market after importing the same in the form of completely built units (CBUs) from the parent.

As part of the overall strategy of providing more choice to the customers and enhance its own reach, GMI has drawn up plans for increasing its dealer and service network from the current 42 dealers and 25 authorised service outlets (ASO) to 45 dealers an d 40 ASOs by the year end.

Pic.: Mr Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director, General Motors India, at the launch of Opel Swing in the Capital on Tuesday.

Picture by Ramesh Sharma