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NEW DELHI, March 3

GENERAL Motors India on Monday unveiled the Chevrolet Forester, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), as part of its efforts to emerge as a leading player in the Indian automobile market over the next three years.

Priced at Rs 15.59 lakh (ex-showroon Delhi), GMI's first offering badged under the Chevrolet brand is being imported as completely built units (CBU) from its alliance partner, Japan-based Fuji Heavy Industries, which markets its products under the Subaru brand. Equipped with an all-wheel drive system, the sports utility vehicle (SUV) has a horizontally-exposed, 1,994-cc engine.

The car will be available at select dealerships across the country from March 10 onwards.

Meanwhile, General Motors (GM) intends to position the Chevrolet brand as its mainstream brand in India, while the Opel brand will have a premium positioning, Mr Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director, GM India, said at a press conference.

The company is expected to roll out at least one more product under the Chevrolet brand this year. It will also be launching a premium hatchback under the Opel brand in the latter half of the year.

Though company officials declined to provide further details about the new products that are to be introduced this year, sources say the new product is likely to be from the GM Daewoo Auto & Technology stable. According to market speculation, the models being studied for launch include the Lacetti and the Matiz.

GM also did not rule out the possibility of flexing its alliance with Fiat or Suzuki in the Indian market.

"We are certainly looking at synergies together and are looking at sourcing components, power trains and even facilities, anything that offers economies of scale to all of us," Mr Raymond G. Grigg, President and Representative Director, General Motors (Asia Pacific), said desisting from elaborating further.

Meanwhile, to achieve its target of inking sales of 50,000 units in the next three years, GM would be investing another Rs 756 crore by 2005, thus taking its total investment in India to Rs 1,600 crore. Apart from upgrading its plant at Halol, Gujarat, the investment will also be utilised for a new testing facility. GM India sold about 8,500 cars in the last calendar year, and is targeting to double its sales this year.

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Chevrolet Forester to hit India on March 10

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