New Delhi, May 03, 2005: General Motors India registered an over 58 percent growth in April 2005 as compared to last year as Chevrolet Tavera, winner of Overdrive’s coveted "UV of the Year 2005" award, sold 1603 units in April to cross the 15,000 mark within 11 months of its mid-2004 launch.

The global auto major sold 2214 cars in April as against 1401 cars in the same month last year to record a growth of 58.03% in monthly sales. Besides Tavera, these included 406 units of Chevrolet Optra and 200 units of Opel Corsa. April sales pushed the Tavera tally to 15,049 cars.

Selling 10611 cars between January and April 2005 as compared to 6792 in the first four months last year, the company recorded a 56.23 % growth in YTD sales. These included 6632 units of Tavera, 2619 Optras and 1343 Corsas.

Upbeat about the company’s performance, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India said, “With the demand for our cars growing at a fast pace, we have not only ramped up production capacity at our Halol facility to 60,000 units, but are also working on several other initiatives to make owning a GM vehicle an even more pleasurable experience.”

Tavera’s impressive fuel performance (ranked as “best in class mileage” by Autocar – 14.3kmpl) has been a key contributor to its growing popularity. The launch of Chevrolet Optra NY edition with pleasing beige interiors even on base variants too has been a resounding success with customers.

Introduced in India in 2003, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet brand was named "The Best Automotive Brand Of The Year 2004" by BS Motoring. Besides Tavera, two other Chevy products, Optra Luxury sedan and Forester SUV have between them cornered seven awards to date.

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.