GM to rollout ''Chevrolet Spark'' by first half of 2007

Kolkata, Jul 6 (UNI) General Motors India, wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation, is planning to roll out the 'Chevrolet Spark' model by first half of 2007, its vice-president-marketing, sales and aftersales Ankush Arora said today.

''The Spark to be positioned in the 'A+' segment will compete with the Santro and Wagon R,'' Arora said.

The company is targetting sale of 50,000 cars in 2006, representing a 53 per cent growth over the previous year, he said.

''General Motors India will invest Rs 200 crore in 2006 to expand the capacity of its assembly plant at Halol in Gujarat to 85,000 units from 60,000 units at present,'' he said.

GM India presently assembles Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet Optra and the Chevrolet Aveo at its facility in Halol, Gujarat.

''The expansion is necessitated to meet the demand for the existing product lines and for the new models to be launched in future. The expansion will be complete by September 2006,'' he said.

GM's total investment in India after the capacity expansion will be Rs 1400 crore.

GM will introduce the CNG variant of its Optra model in Mumbai, Gujarat and Delhi in a week's time, Arora said.

The CNG variant will cost Rs 48,000 over and above the actual cost of the Optra model.

''GM is evaluating options to further increase its capacity in future to fulfil its vision of selling two lakh cars to occupy at least 10 per cent market share of the Indian car market,'' Arora said.

Arora was in the city to introduce the newly launched Chevrolet SRV model priced at Rs 7.11 lakh (ex-showroom). The company is targetting young professionals with the new product.

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