General Motors India Rolls Out First Argentina Bound Vehicle

Chevrolet India, also know as General Motors India, produced its first vehicle meant to be shipped in Argentina. The commissioned cars will be sent out to Argentina next month, and it would be the sixth major export market for Chevrolet India. As the Indian subsidiary already exports to countries including Mexico, Peru, Chile, Central America, Uruguay and Caribbean Countries. 

The manufacturer is exporting the Beat in its left-hand drive guise, which recorded the highest growth for any exported vehicle from India in the financial year 2015-16. The vehicle recorded a total export of 37,082 units in this period. However, the Beat isn’t witnessing any good luck in the local market.

“In keeping with our commitment to the Make in India programme, we are proud to celebrate the roll-out of the first vehicle for Argentina,” said GM India President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem.“The new export market is a testimony to our commitment to provide the highest quality standards to global customers from the Talegaon plant. Whether it’s in India or anywhere else in the world, General Motors follows the highest quality standards in its manufacturing processes providing same high-quality vehicles that customers in India and around the world expect and deserve,” Kazem added.

The Beat is very familiar across the globe, however, it is badged as the Spark in the majority of the markets. The American manufacturer has sold more than 1 million units of the car worldwide and is successful in India as well, but the sales have dropped at an alarming rate. 

Produced at Chevrolet’s Talegaon plant, Maharashtra, the Beat has been shipped to Chile (South America) since September 2014. The plant has a base capacity of 1,30,000 vehicles. This facility is planned to become a global export hub for GM, with around 30 per cent production planned as exports.  

“In 2016, we plan to export over 50,000 vehicles, compared with 21,000 vehicles last calendar year, reinforcing our commitment to the Indian market and our strong local supplier base. This is part of GM’s strategy to make India an export hub for global markets and will help increase capacity utilisation at our Talegaon plant. We expect to identify additional export markets going forward,” Kazem said.