Chevrolet rolls out first Beat hatchback for export to Mexico

More export markets are expected to be served by the Talegaon plant.

Sales of the mini-car in Mexico are scheduled to begin in December 2015.

Automobile manufacturer General Motors rolled out its first vehicle for export from its Talegaon Dabhade plant in Pune on Monday.

Passenger vehicle sales in India rose 5 percent in the year to the end of March, but global carmakers Renault, GM, Volkswagen, Skoda and Ford all reported double-digit declines, industry data showed. The announcement by GM India is part of its strategy to make India a global export hub.

In the future, it’s also possible that GM India will export vehicles to parts of north and South Africa, along with various countries in Asia as well. “In keeping with our commitment to the Make in India program, we are proud to produce exciting Chevrolet vehicles for the Mexican market”, said Arvind Saxena, president and managing director of GM India. The company has moved its corporate headquarters in India to a different location in the same city, which saves it 50 per cent in rent payments, adding up to annual savings of $US500,000 ($F1.087m), Saxena said. “This will help drive capacity utilization at our Talegaon facility”. “We starting exporting to Chile from Talegaon factory in September 2014 and have sold over 1,000 vehicles a year ago”.

During her recent visit to India, GM’s chief executive Mary Barra announced USD1 billion in new investment in the market, including exports.