GM launches small car `Chevrolet Spark'' in India

17 April 2007

Mumbai: General Motors, the world''s biggest carmaker, has launched its hatchback `Chevrolet Spark'' in India with a starting price of Rs3.09 lakh - nearly Rs 12,000 cheaper than its closest competitor Maruti Suzuki''s Zen Estilo, sparking a price war in the small car segment.

Chevrolet Spark, equipped with a 1000 cc petrol engine and available in four models, has been priced in the Rs3.09-3.89 lakh range.

While Spark would be Rs12,000 cheaper than the Zen, it would come at a premium of Rs39,000 over the base model of Hyundai''s popular hatchback Santro, which is being sold at Rs2.7 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

"We have not been represented in the small car market in India and we want to increase our presence in this segment, which is the fastest growing segment in the country," General Motors Corp chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner said.

He said introducing the small car Spark, one of GM''s most successful models worldwide, was a part of the company''s growth strategy in India.

The company is initially aiming at selling 2,000-3,000 units of Spark a month, which will be rolled out from its Halol facility in Gujarat.