New Delhi: General Motors India has registered a phenomenal 163 per cent growth in sales of its cars in January 2004 as compared to the same month last year thanks to the growing popularity of its Chevrolet and Opel brands.

"The phenomenal growth in sales of GM in India is primarily due to the tremendous response to Chevrolet Optra and Opel Corsa models," said Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President- Corporate Affairs General Motors India.

The company sold a total of 1477 cars in January 2004 as against 562 in January 2003 registering a growth of 163%. Corsa sales went up nearly 100 per cent to 750 from 376. Chevrolet Optra, the luxury sedan sold as many as 700 cars.

Since its India launch about 5,000 Chevrolet Optra cars have been sold in a span of over five 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 Astra, 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.