Date:17/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/17/stories/2006031702080200.htm

Back Chevrolet Aveo range starts at Rs 5.55 lakh

Our Bureau

General Motors India working on developing diesel model

NEW ROLL-OUT: (From left) Mr Ankush Arora, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, GMI, Mr Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, and Mr P. Balendran, Vice-President (Corporate Affairs) at the launch of Chevrolet Aveo in Mumbai on Thursday. — Shashi Ashiwal

Mumbai , March 16

General Motors India (GMI) today priced the four versions of its Chevrolet Aveo in the range of Rs 5.55-Rs 6.85 lakh.

The least expensive among the line-up - the 1.4E - will be available from July. Deliveries of the rest will commence shortly.

The 1.4L, the 1.4LS, and the top-end 1.6LT cost Rs 5.74 lakh, Rs 6.14 lakh, and Rs 6.85 lakh respectively.

Prices quoted are ex-showroom, Thane.

The car has a local content of less than 50 per cent.

"We aim to touch 50 per cent in a few months," Mr Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, told newspersons.

The Aveo, described as key to growing the Chevrolet brand in India, comes without a diesel model in its domestic line-up. GMI is said to be working on one.

Expected in a few months is the Aveo Yuva, a hatchback, which would compete in the market with the Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai Getz.

The production capacity at GMI's Halol plant would touch 85,000 units on a two-shift basis by third quarter this year.

However, total production for the year is pegged at 50,000 units.

A higher rollout of vehicles should happen next year. In 2005, the company had sold 30,387 cars, up 18 per cent from before.

There are no concrete plans yet on how to increase capacity beyond the said 85,000 units.

Some further addition is possible through a third shift in operations.

"We are looking at various options," Mr P. Balendran, Vice-President (Corporate Affairs), said.