GM do Brasil has announced the Chevrolet Spin, its replacement for the locally-made Meriva and Zafira. This also means the identity and model name for GM’s forthcoming Indonesian-built minivan is now known.
The Spin for South American markets recently entered production at the São Caetano plant in the state of São Paulo. It will be launched in Brazil later in June.
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The five- or seven-seater Chevy Spin will be unique in its class by offering a six-speed automatic gearbox, GM do Brasil claims. The division also notes its importance to Chevrolet’s ongoing global expansion by revealing that it was the brand’s second largest market in 2011, a year when Chevrolet sold a record 4.76 million vehicles. The top-ten countries were the United States, Brazil, China, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Uzbekistan, India and Colombia.
GM’s announcement concerning the Spin also ends speculation concerning a new model for its Pondok Ungu (Bekasi) plant in the Indonesian province of West Java. The company stated in August 2011 that it would re-open the facility and assemble a ‘people mover’ there from 2013. Build would be at the rate of 40,000 vehicles per annum, GM said at the time. Following an investment equivalent to USD150m, the model would be launched locally and exported to other markets in South East Asia. Pondok Ungu ceased operations in 2005 and has been idle ever since.
Chevrolet is GM’s main brand for the Indonesian market. There, the Spin will be a rival for the Daihatsu Xenia and Toyota Avanza twins.
Author: Glenn Brooks
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