New Delhi: General Motors India's flagship brand, Chevrolet Optra has attained market leadership in the entry D segment with 114% growth in March 2004.

Since its India launch in July 2003, Chevrolet Optra has sold over 7,100 units with 1470 sold in March 2004 alone as overall sales of GM more than doubled in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the same period last year.

"The impressive growth in sales of GM in India is a testimony to the growing customer confidence in the Chevrolet Optra and Opel Corsa models. The increase in sales can also be attributed to significant upgradation in dealership facility taken up by the company along with the introduction of the Chevrolet brand", said Mr. Amit Dutta, Vice President Marketing, General Motors India.

The company sold 5391 cars between January and March 2004 as against 2559 in the same period last year registering a growth of 110% with 2605 cars sold in March 2004 as against 1479 units in March 2003, an increase of 76%

Chevrolet Optra witnessed 79% growth in Quarter ending March 2004 versus fourth quarter of 2003. Opel Corsa sales went up nearly 36% to 2442 units in this quarter over 1788 units in corresponding quarter of 2003.

GM India sold over 15,000 cars in calendar year 2003 nearly twice as many as in 2002. It intends to repeat the performance in 2004 to double the sales again thanks to the growing popularity of its Chevrolet and Opel brands. This growth will be fuelled further with its entry into the MUV segment with the Chevrolet Tavera scheduled for launch in 2nd quarter of 2004.

GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India also manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its state-of-the art facility in Halol, Gujarat. In addition, GM India sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.