The booming hatchback market in India has prompted General Motors India to add the Sail premium hatchback from the Chinese SAIC joint venture model line to its own range.
An MPV, so far shown as a concept, and again developed with SAIC, will be launched in 2012.
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Asked about launch timing, Lowell Paddock, president and managing director of GM India, said: “The Sail will be launched in India by the second quarter of 2012.”
However, he declined to comment on the cost of setting up to make the platform.
“We have already invested more than US$1bn in India and we are ready with the platform to produce the range.”
The Sail hatchback – the model also is made as a sedan – likely will be priced higher than the popular Beat hatchback.
Engineers at GM’s Indian design centre in Bangalore have already made the required modifications for local sale. Production will be in Talegaon.
“The Sail will widen our hatchback portfolio and provides us a competitive edge in the Indian small car market,” Paddock added.
The Chevrolet MPV concept should be in production in India by the end of 2012. In China, it’s called the Wuling Hong Guang.
“The multi-purpose vehicle is designed to cater to the B-segment in India and is targeted at emerging markets,” Paddock said.
