New Delhi, January 3, 2005: Riding high on the success of the popular Chevrolet brand, General Motors India sales grew an astounding 73% in calendar year 2004. The company is gearing up to meet the growing demand for its cars by hiking its annual production capacity to 60,000 units by February 2005.

Introduced in India in 2003, the Chevrolet brand has won yet another laurel with BS Motoring naming it "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2005". Two Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV, have won about a dozen awards to date between them.

“It was a great year for the company with the love affair blooming between the American legend Chevy and India. Our valued customers appreciated what the world sees in the Chevrolet brand and GM products,” said Mr. Aditya Vij, President & Managing Director about the company’s impressive performance in 2004.

In 2004, the company sold a total of 26166 cars as against 15,155 cars in the previous year to record a 73% percent growth in annual sales, while overall passenger car growth during the year was only around 23-24%. These included 9191 Chevy Optras in Entry ‘D’ Luxury sedan segment, 8369 Opel Corsas and 8417 units of the new generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) Chevrolet Tavera.

Selling 2403 cars in the closing month of the year as against 1650 cars in December last year, the company registered a growth of 46 % in monthly sales. The December sales included 520 units of Chevrolet Optra, 1467 units of Chevrolet Tavera and 409 units of Opel Corsa.

To make 2005 an even more eventful year, General Motors India is working on several programs that will enable the launch of special editions and exciting marketing events. The annual sales target for 2005 includes 21,000 Taveras, 9000 Optras and 8,000 Opel Corsas.

Gearing up for increased production, General Motors India’s Halol facility in Gujarat is undergoing major expansion to increase its capacity to 60,000 units by February 2005 to provide world-class vehicles made in India to the discerning Indian consumer.

The year 2004 also marked the launch of GM’s new-generation premium multi-utility vehicle (MUV) Chevrolet Tavera, the Comfortable Family Car that has sold 8417 units in a little over five months. Demand for this latest generation MUV continues to remain strong. Several special editions of the Chevrolet Optra and Opel Corsa were introduced during the year.

With new styling and additional comfort, convenience, safety and luxury features, the New Look Chevrolet Optra 2005 NY edition takes India’s entire midsize sedan market to a new level. Truly an international car, the Optra is sold in over 100 countries across the globe.

In another first by any auto manufacturer in India, General Motors launched a 24x7 call centre, to attend to customer complaints and provide any information related to GM India’s products and services round the clock with just one local call to 3030-8080 from any landline or mobile phone across the country. Part of GM India’s commitment to its customers, the new centralised system scores over such facilities offered by other manufacturers that work only through MTNL phones.

To mark the first anniversary of the introduction of the Chevrolet brand in India, General Motors India had organised a series of special activities across India under the Chevy banner - “For a Special Journey Called Life.” Among these were special Chevrolet “Optra Max Mileage Magic Rallies” from Punjab up north to Kerala down south to bring the Chevrolet family together. Winners drove away with amazing 22 kmph plus best fuel mileage on their Optras. The company has also started Road Shows in 110 cities across the country to bring home the advantage of owning a car from the GM India stable.

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