GM India aims at 93% localisation of 'Tavera'

In Hyderabad market, Tavera offered in six variants with base price of Rs 5,32,000

General Motors (GM) India, a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation expects to reach a 93 per cent level of localisation on its recently launched Chevrolet Tavera by the end of the year.

The Tavera already enjoys a 85 per cent localisation which has ensured that the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) is competitively priced in the Indian market.

Addressing a press conference at the launch of the Chevrolet Tavera in the city, Anil Mehrotra, chief financial officer of General Motors India, said: "This is significant not only for the local economy but it also benefits consumers who enjoy a lower cost of ownership through lower spare part prices and the ready availability of spares."

The Chevrolet Tavera is a premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) which can seat up to 10 people. Tavera is the latest vehicle from GM India bearing the Chevrolet nameplate. Apart from the Tavera, the other Chevrolet vehicles are the Chevrolet Optra, a midsize sedan and the Chevrolet Forester, a sports utility vehicle.

Mehrotra said that the Tavera was being offered in six variants with a base price of Rs 5,32,000 in the Hyderabad market as compared to Rs 5,42,000 in Delhi. The Tavera has a 2.5 litre turbo diesel engine and gives an average mileage of about 12-13 kilometres per litre in the city and about 15 kmpl in highway driving conditions.

The company has also announced an introductory warranty offer on the engine for five years or 1,50,000 kms, whichever is earlier.

Speaking on the occasion, Amit Dutta, vice-president (marketing, sales and after sales), GM India, said: "The MUV segment has seen a 43 per cent growth in 2003 as compared to the previous year and we expect it to be grow at 47 per cent this year."

The company expects to sell around 10,000 units of Tavera this year.

"The delivery of the vehicles would commence from mid-June on a first-come first-serve basis," Dutta said.

The company expects the total sales of all its brands to be around 32,000 as compared to 14,000 last year, out of which the Chevrolet badged vehicles are expected to contribute 60 per cent while the rest would be from Opel badged vehicles.

Dutta said that the company plans to increase its dealer base to about 75 this year from the existing 52.

He added that all the company's dealers in the country were adopting the state-of-art '3S' facilities (sales, service and spare) integrated facilities.