Chevrolet Beat (diesel) to be launched in India on Jul 25

General Motors India would launch the diesel variant of its Chevrolet Beat in the Indian market on July 25, a top company official said here today.

"With fluctuation in fuel prices in India from time to time, the new diesel Beat, the prices of which will be announced at the launch will revolutionise the small car segment, with its engine capacity and fuel economy," Karl Slym President and Managing Director General Motors India told reporters here.

Also read: Pricing is key to enter Indian small car segment

The company, which sold about 1.1 lakh cars last year in India, was doubling its growth rate in India as compared to industry average and expected to sell about 1.4 lakh vehicles in all variants this year, up by more than 30%, he said.

Slym, here to launch a new dealership along with two attached workshops, said the outlet was 250th in India. With tremendous demand for its cars particularly in rural areas, the company would increase sales and service network to 300 locations by the end of this year, he said.

On capacity addition, he said the Halol unit in Gujarat, which produces one lakh cars a year, could add another 1.4 lakh cars, while the Talegaon unit in Maharashtra has 1.4 lakh production capacity in the first phase and capacity to produce three lakh cars, after completion of second phase in another 18 months.

Asked about the investment, Slym said the company has so far invested USD 1.5 billion in India. Another USD 250 million each would be pumped in both the manufacturing plants in another one and half years.

With 2,500 engineers in its Bangalore foundation for design and development, General Motors was meeting 90% of its global requirements from India and hardly exported 2% from India to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, Slym said and ruled out setting up any manufacturing plant in South India.