General Motors India is considering using the Chevrolet Enjoy MPV platform to foray into India’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market. GM India sold its 505 stake to SM-SAIC in 2009 and the Joint venture is mulling to launch a number of vehicles across different segements.
Lowell Paddock, president and managing director, GM India, said, “We can use the Enjoy platform and elements of the MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) to roll out LCVs.” He, however, declined to specify the timeline for the introduction of the two sub-one-tonne models. The company had said it would launch these models in India early this year.
The entry into the growing LCV segment has been delayed due to the company’s focus on rolling out passenger vehicles across the hatchback, sedan and utility vehicle segments. The Sail hatch back will be launched on the 25th of October, the Enjoy MPV would hit the roads this festive season and the Sail sedan would follow by the end of the year.
To cash in on the growth potential in the LCV segment, General Motors had invested about Rs 1,125 crore in developing two LCVs, together with partner Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC). To roll out LCVs, the company had increased manufacturing capacity at the Halol facility in Gujarat from 85,000 units to 1,10,000 units.
The company is overhauling its line-up of passenger cars in the country to woo consumers and take on competition. Besides the three new models lined up for launch over the next three months, the company has already introduced refurbished versions of the Chevrolet Tavera, Captiva and Cruze earlier this year. It is also upgrading small car Spark is expected to be launched on the 15th of October.
