GM unveils new Tavera at Rs9.54 lakh;expects to sell 2,000 units/mth

New Delhi, Sept 3 (UNI) General Motors (GM) India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based General Motors Corporation, today said it expects to sell about 2,000 units of its new 'Chevrolet Tavera Neo 2' per month.

The vehicle, which was launched here, is priced at Rs 9.54 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) with 20 additional features over its previous version.

''It has been upgraded inside and out based on the feedback of the customers,'' General Motors India President and Managing Director Karl Slym told reporters here.

It is one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in its class, which combines trouble-free performance with comfortable passenger accomodation, he added.

The new Tavera is priced about Rs two lakh above its previous version.

Tavera offers a low cost of maintenance at 33 paise per km and has a average of 14.3-20.1 km a litre, with a additional features like a three-spoke steering wheel.

The company has been selling 1,700-1,800 units of Tavera in the country every month.

This launch comes a day after company inaugurated its new vehicle manufacturing facility in Talegaon, Maharashtra.

The company has invested about Rs 1,400 crore in this state-of-art 300 acre manufacturing facility, with an initial capacity to produce 1,40,000 units per annum and is designed to accomodate future expansion.

Last year, the capacity of the Halol, Gujarat, facility was expanded to 85,000 units from 60,000 units.

''This will take the company's annual manufacturing capacity to 2,25,000 vehicles,'' Mr Slym said.

With 1,000 employees, this facility will manufacture the Chevrolet Spark, the mini-car for the domestic market.

The auto giant is also working on a small-car project, which would be launched sometime next year. Engineers at its Bangalore Research and Development centre have been working on the small car, which would also be exported to overseas markets.

Started operations in India in 1996, GM offers product under the Chevrolet brand in the country.

It manufactures Captiva, Optra, Aveo, SR-V, Aveo U-VA, Spark and Tavera for sale in India.

UNI MP SR AS1730