General Motors India intends to increase its used-car business five fold in India by the end of this year. It owns 11 Chevrolet-OK as its pre-owned car retail outlets and intends to increase the strength of these outlets to up to at least 50. It also has 203 dealers in India which it intends to increase up to 250 by the end of this year. "At present, we have 203 outlets across the country. We would cross 250 mark by the end of this fiscal. Of these outlets, majority would come up in rural and semi urban areas," said GM Group Vice President, Nick Reilly.
"We would be extending the same 3-year/one lakh km warranty to used-car owners as well. Though we have not set target for used-cars, but the sale of used cars should not be less than 40 per cent of the new car sales at an outlet," GM India President and Managing Director Karl Slym said. All the used cars at dealerships in India will undergo a history check as well as go through 110-point check list by GM India trained engineers.
The wholly owned Indian subsidiary of the American auto giant seems to be facing trouble in raising money to complete its engine plant in India. Its parent company has already filed bankruptcy in the US and is not much of help for its troubles. Earlier Reilly had stated that it faced problems in raising USD 200 million funds earmarked for its engine plant in Talegaon, Maharashtra. GM India also intends to increase its dealership network to rural and sem-urban Indian cities as well.
