GM posts 11 pc rise in car sales for Nov 2006

Mumbai, Dec 2: General Motors India has registered an 11 per cent growth in sales in November 2006 to 2,554 units as compared to 2,303 units in the same period last year.

Announcing this, a GM statement today said the November sales comprise of 1,651 units of Chevrolet Tavera, 602 units of Chevrolet Aveo and 301 units of Chevrolet Optra. GM India sales during the January to November 2006 period was 33,240 units as compared to 28,674 units during the same period last year, registering a growth of 16 per cent on a Year to date(YTD) basis.

Mr P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India said, ''The sales of all our carlines have been to our satisfaction as we have maintained steady growth and have been able to meet our expected volume levels.'' Gearing up for a major ramp up, GM's Halol facility in Gujarat is undergoing an expansion drive to enhance its capacity to 85,000 units by the end of this year to cater to the increased market demand for Chevrolet brand of vehicles.

GM India - a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation - laid the foundation stone for its new manufacturing facility at Talegaon in Maharashtra on November 21. The plant when completed will have an annual production capacity of 140,000 vehicles. It is expected to be completed within 20 months, with beginning of production scheduled for the third quarter of 2008.

To enhance the customer experience, GM India has also expanded its dealership network from 74 to 91 sales points this year. This excludes the service outlets which has gone to 98 from 67 outlets.

''We intend to put in place 95 sales points and 110 service outlets by end of this month. Two new parts distribution centres have also been set up this year in Maharashtra and Delhi to supplement existing centres in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu,'' Balendran added.

UNI