General Motors India is planning to develop Chevrolet as its mainstream brand in the country. The company expects the bulk of its revenues to come from the brand in a few years' time. "The Opel brand in turn will be the premium brand for GM. We are targeting total sales of about 50,000 units in the next 3-4 years in India", Mr. Aditya Vij, President and Managing Director, GM India, said while addressing a press conference.


Two models are likely to be rolled out under the Chevrolet brand this year. Company officials said that since it is expecting the Chevrolet brand to help make it a volume player in the country, products to be launched under the brand are likely to have a higher local content.

The engine for one of the models is likely to be developed at Hindustan Motors' plant in Pithampur.
According to Mr Vij, the current Opel dealership network will be used for Chevrolet as well. "We will have dual brand dealerships for Opel and Chevrolet", he said.

Meanwhile, the company is investing a considerable amount at its Halol plant in Gujarat. Company officials said that GM India has FIPB permission to invest Rs 700 crore at its plant, which will be completed by 2004, thus taking its total investment in the country to Rs. 1,300 crore.