Car News in India

Betting big on the diesel variant of its compact car ‘Beat’, General Motors (GM) on Thursday said it expects its sales to far exceed the average industry sales growth in the current year though current economic condition could play a spoilsport.

"In 2011, our sales were 1,11,570 units, up one per cent over the previous year’s. This year, we expect to grow at double the rate of industry growth," General Motors India Vice President (Sales, Marketing and After-sales) Sumit Swahney told reporters on the sidelines of 11th Auto Expo at New Delhi.

Swahney said that since the launch of the diesel variant of Beat in the middle of the last year, the company has been selling around 6,000 units a month.

He said the expected growth in sales was almost a certainty on the back of new product line-up this year. The company on Thursday showcased two latest variants of multi-utility vehicles - Chevrolet Tavera Neo3 and Chevrolet Captiva 2.2 AT. These would be formally launched in the country later this year.

The company also showcased 15 production and concept models, including Chevrolet Beat BEV ( Battery Electric Vehicle), Chevrolet EN-V and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

In the backdrop of slowdown of the economy, high inflation and interest rates, the industry had clocked sales growth single digit only.

Industry experts did not see much hope in the current year as well. Most expect 8-9 per cent growth. "The market is still not very encouraging. However, it will certainly look up if the government steps in," he said.

The Chevrolet portfolio in India includes the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Tavera.