General Motors India, the American based multi-national car maker is embarking upon its plans to revamp its Indian portfolio with new offerings in the hatchback and entry level sedan segments in a bid to regain its market stand in India. Since its unveiling at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expoearlier this year, the Chevrolet Sail has been one of the much talked about cars in the country.
Chevrolet Sail is expected to be rolled out in India in the hatchback and the sedan variant marking the exit of the Aveo range that witnessed highly declining sales figures in the recent times.
Mr Lowell Paddock, the President and Managing Director, General Motors India, confirmed that Sail will hit the Indian roads in a hatchback and notchback version replacing the Aveo line-up and the hatchback version will be christened as Sail U-VA. The car will come loaded with 1.4 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel engine and the MultiJet diesel engine will be outsourced from Fiat India. The launch of the notchback variant of Sail will render a stiff rivalry to the market dominating mid-size sedans such as Maruti Swift Dzire, Mahindra Veritoand Toyota Etios.
Since the Sail U-VA hatchback is said to be offered in 1400 cc engine, the car deprives itself of the excise duty benefits availed by its competitors with 1200 cc engine. While this premium hatchback will deliver highly powerful performance but owing to such deprivation of excise duty benefit, the price structure will be difficult to be set competitively.
