New Delhi: General Motors India is planning to make a perfectly timed entry into the booming MUV segment by launching a "New Age" big family car under its growingly popular Chevrolet brand in the second quarter of 2004.

This spacious 'Family Car' can comfortably seat 10 people and sports an elegant, stylish and a contemporary design. GM India plans to take on vehicles in a segment currently dominated by players like Mahindra Scorpio and Qualis. The company is confident that its Chevrolet branded Multi-purpose vehicle will do exceptionally well as it has received excellent consumer feedback at internal researches that "more and more people are viewing the MUV segment as an alternate to a car and Chevrolet Tavera stands as the right choice."

Despite the lack of a "quality" choice, the MUV segment has boomed with sales touching 83,000 units in 2003, a whopping 47% growth over 2002. The sales are expected to touch nearly 100,000 this year.

Chevrolet's entry into the MUV segment aims to provide families the opportunity to travel comfortably and "in style" with the new Chevrolet MUV offering superior driving and riding comfort as well as "Space for All".

The new Chevrolet MUV will be powered by diesel engine technology from Isuzu, world renowned for dependable, high performance diesel engines. The specially designed turbo diesel engines for MUVs are highly fuel efficient and easy to maintain and offer 20% more fuel efficiency than some of other players in the segment.

Besides the new MPV, GM India plans to launch an exciting range of vehicles specifically designed for the Indian market under the umbrella of the renowned Chevrolet brand, one of the world's most famous brands and the bestseller in North America.

Chevrolet, an all American automotive legend, is currently celebrating the first anniversary of its blooming love affair with India in style with a stunning display of the cutting-edge automotive technology and brilliant styling of the all time favourite American sports car the Chevrolet Corvette. A rally of vintage and modern Chevys was held in New Delhi on March 13.

Sales of GM cars in India are booming thanks to the tremendous response to Chevrolet Optra and a new improved Opel Corsa 2004 edition. Since its India launch about 5,700 Chevrolet Optra cars have been sold in a span of over six months. GM India sold over 15,000 cars in 2003 nearly twice as many as in 2002. It intends to repeat the performance in 2004 to double the sales again.

GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Optra, GM India also manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its state-of-the art facility in Halol, Gujarat. In addition, GM India sells the imported Opel Vectra and Chevrolet Forester.