The Hindu : Business : GM unveils Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

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Saturday, Dec 23, 2006
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GM unveils Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

The base model is priced at Rs. 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

— PHOTO: R. V. MOORTHY

CATCHING UP: Rajeev Chaba, Managing Director, General Motors India, launching the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: General Motors on Friday launched its hatchback `Chevrolet Aveo U-VA' in India.

The 1.2-litre Aveo U-VA, which will be pitted against segment leader Maruti Swift and Hyundai Getz, will be available in three variants with the base model being priced at Rs. 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), matching the entry-level price offered by rivals.

The other two variants of the model have been priced at Rs. 4.39 lakh and Rs. 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively, and the company offers the option of ABS (anti-lock braking system) on the top-end and airbags (after three months) for additional costs.

General Motors India President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba said the company was banking on the success of the new model as well as the yet-to-be-launched Spark (a new version of the erstwhile Daewoo Matiz) for changing its fortunes in India, where it is a fringe player.

"We have re-engineered the car to suit Indian conditions and it carries a local content of less than 50 per cent, which we plan to take up to about 55 per cent,'' he said.

This is the second attempt by the company in the premium hatchback segment, after the failure of the Corsa Sail.

"We have learnt our lessons and have tuned our strategies accordingly,'' Mr. Chaba said.

The company, which sold only 30,000 units in India in 2005, is eyeing to increase the sales to as much as two lakh units by 2010, on the back of new launches.

"Work on Spark is progressing as scheduled and the car will be out by the second quarter of next year,'' Mr. Chaba said.

Besides Spark, the company plans to launch `Captiva' sport utility vehicle.

"It is in the plan and we will launch it for sure. But it will not come at least till the third quarter of next year,'' he said.

The company is also looking at launching the premium sedan Epica. — PTI

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