Chevrolet next small car – the Beat:
Chevrolet which has become the fifth largest automaker in India is planning aggresive launches in 2008. GM plans to capture 10 percent market share in india by 2010. Though it plans many new launches like captiva SUV, new optra,aveo diesel and hummer H3, GM realises unless it populate cars in small car segment (which accounts for 2/3rd of indian car industry)like Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki, GM could not make it. “The mini car segment is not a segment: it is several segments and several consumers, from first-time buyers to those looking for a second car, so we need to look at it differently”, said Karl Slym, president and managing director of GM india. If General Motors able to capture 10 -15% in the small car segment, it can easily achieve the target. GM officials at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show have indicated that the Chevy Beat concept(showcased in Newyork auto show) will go into production and will focus on non-North American markets. Hence After Aveo U-VA and spark, chevrolet’s ‘beat’ codenamed M300 might be GM’s next small car for india. Beat will go into production in mid 2009 and it will be slotted between spark and U-VA. The production model will carry the spirit of the expressive Beat concept, offering compact, city-friendly dimensions and a small-displacement engine that delivers excellent fuel economy.
Chevrolet beat is styled at GM’s Design Studio in Bupyeong, South Korea , with input from GM’s global network of designers. the beat is based on the same platform on which suzuki’s splash is built (soon to be launched in india).
Unlike the spark and aveo U-VA, chevrolet can price the beat very competetively. This is possible since GM is constructing its own engine plant in india(GM currently import engines for all its models except tavera from korea which attracts haevy import duty). Chevrolet will use the 1.3L multijet (swift’s engine) diesel engine for the new beat. Beat will also be powered by an 1.2L petrol engine. GM is developing a new 1L diesel engine for asian markets which also may be used for the beat (but only after 2010).
a new spark variant and a CNG Aveo U-VA:
Before the beat, chevrolet may launch an another variant of spark possibly in 2008. “In the near future, we plan to roll out a mini car which is likely to be a variant of Chevrolet Spark”, GM India vice-president P Balendran told. The new spark variant may be equipped with the much proven 1.3L multijet (swift’s engine) diesel engine. GM could source its requirements from Fiat or Suzuki(1.3L multijet engine is jointly produced by Suzuki-Fiat and opel).
Chevrolet which has already launched a CNG variant of its mid-size sedan Optra is now planning a CNG variant of its premium hatchback Aveo UV-A. In 2007, General Motors has launched spark and optra magnum this year and will launch captiva SUV in january 2008. GM’s indian line-up is full – starting from a refreshed aveo U-VA, new spark variant, a small car, new optra and aveo diesel and the luxury sedan epica.