GM launches new look Corsa

johnjacob · 9th March 2005, 20:23

Just saw this in the Economic Times
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NEW DELHI: General Motors India on Wednesday launched the new look Opel Corsa and said the company was working on new programmes to introduce more special editions of its cars in 2005 to boost sales.

GM India increased sales by 74 per cent to 26,000 units in the year 2004. "To make 2005 an even more eventful year, the company is working on several programmes that will enable the launch of special editions and exciting marketing events," GM India said in a press release.

The new Opel has been launched across all the Corsa variants with prices ranging from Rs 4,47,468 (ex showroom Delhi) for Corsa Sail to Rs 5,60,924 for Corsa 1.6 GLS.

"The New Look Opel Corsa represents an extension of GM's commitment to exceed customer expectations in our products and services. Our new offering raises the bar in terms of value for money in its segment," said Aditya Vij, president and managing director of GM India.

GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of world's largest car maker General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Optra, GM India manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat.

GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra in addition to the Chevrolet Forester.
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If this is the facelifted Corsa currently sold in the European markets and in Australia (as the Holden Barina) then GM is offering us too little, too late. The all-new Corsa is due internationally in 2006 (this will share the platform with the next-gen Fiat Punto). What is GM thinking by offering us Indians the previous generation model just before the new one is to be released?

RANT: ALL car manufacturers in India (except Hyundai, Honda, maybe Toyota) treat India as a second-rung market and do not introduce their latest models until they are out of date, or at the least, no longer new. Why do they do this?

drifter · 9th March 2005, 20:29

Are there any pics?

Drifter

gamerno1 · 9th March 2005, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjacob

ALL car manufacturers in India (except Hyundai, Honda, maybe Toyota) treat India as a second-rung market and do not introduce their latest models until they are out of date, or at the least, no longer new. Why do they do this?

i hate this too.

santro, swift, optra. just name it!

Harrie · 9th March 2005, 20:33

well that trend will continue just for a few more years. i already see toyota all set to run away in the MPV segment by offering the innova while GM decided to launch the tavera. GM is yet to learn a lesson. maybe it will learn the hard way!

pallavi_sgi · 9th March 2005, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjacob

RANT: ALL car manufacturers in India (except Hyundai, Honda, maybe Toyota) treat India as a second-rung market and do not introduce their latest models until they are out of date, or at the least, no longer new. Why do they do this?

Quite simple actually. Cause not many will pay for the latest models.

gamerno1 · 9th March 2005, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by pallavi_sgi

Quite simple actually. Cause not many will pay for the latest models.

why do they have to keep it expensive then? it should be launched at a price similar to other cars in the same segment.

pallavi_sgi · 9th March 2005, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamerno1

why do they have to keep it expensive then? it should be launched at a price similar to other cars in the same segment.

Well, one car I'd like to see how it does in India is the Toyota Yaris. It is sold (based on a very very quick rough check on the net) at roughly

UK = 8250/8300 GBP. 8300=6,97,000Rs.
Ireland = arounf 15000 euro = 8,25,000Rs.

Now even if you reduce the 'europe only standard' accessories, what price does that give us in India ? And this for a 1 litre car. Now how wil this ever compare with the rest of our 1 litres.

I agree though that the Toyota Innova is a step in this direction. But it's only Toyota as of now and by the time even Toyota enters other sectors in the market, it will be a loooong time.

Pallavi

cream · 9th March 2005, 22:42

since the corsa has not done too well in the indian market, maybe GM doesn't want to take the risk of investing - easier to borrow an old assembly line and start rolling out for third worlders like us.

remember what toyota did with the qualis? it's all about marketing and positioning. when the qualis was introduced, the competition was sumo, bolero etc - easy meat, so why introduce something good, make money on the old 'matchboxes'

with the innova, it's the same - they have introduced this product because there's nothing like this in the market - so easy pickings -

why discontinue the qualis? - because the tavera licked it - there was really no future there...so why not die gracefully?

it's simple economics - they really don't care about us. the only way this trend will reverse is when competition increases - but not any kind of competition. when the indian market is mature enough to recognise a good product from a bad one -that's when things will really change.

typeOnegative · 10th March 2005, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by cream

when the indian market is mature enough to recognise a good product from a bad one -that's when things will really change.

I agree whole heartedly. Well, I cant see Fiat doing badly in spite of having better cars.

normally_crazy · 10th March 2005, 12:38

I have already stated earlier that GM better discontinue the COrsa. it simply doesnt sell and i cant see any reason why the Corsa should still be sold. the only thing going for it is the solid European build ...other than that the car is licked by its competition.

better GM concentrate more on the Optra and the Tavera .

freakr · 22nd April 2005, 00:00

hey..corsa sail is supposed to be 1.6 with 92 bhp..wonder why anyone is nt moding the car...is int it compatible for performance mods..i think with a 1.6 engine..it should run better...i have no idea of power to weight ratio of it..could some one tell me about the car..

amitverma · 22nd April 2005, 00:22

the engine is too old to be useful for some modding.
gm india has to learn that indian market is no cakewalk...cheaper cars dont mean decade old engines...astra, corsa, optra...u name it....n all u get is a @#$%ed-up engine..

Beemer · 22nd April 2005, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cream

when the indian market is mature enough to recognise a good product from a bad one -that's when things will really change.

Can't put it in a better way

Steeroid · 22nd April 2005, 00:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakr

hey..corsa sail is supposed to be 1.6 with 92 bhp..wonder why anyone is nt moding the car...is int it compatible for performance mods..i think with a 1.6 engine..it should run better...i have no idea of power to weight ratio of it..could some one tell me about the car..

Because the car is not just about a great engine (in this case, a decent engine). People dont buy cars after reading bhp figures on specs sheets - they drive it and decide if the CAR (not the engine) appeals to them.

In the case of the corsa, it was nothing more than a Zen with a boot. It didnt belong to that segment.

islero · 22nd April 2005, 07:52

I dont think even GM are convinced about whether the, erm, "new" Corsa will sell. I say it wont, will still remain outdated.

The outdated cars are costly because their parts are not produced any more, therefore the companies have to order them again and in a smaller quantity and as we know with almost any automobile part, the less the number ordered, the more the cost for each item.

9th March 2005, 20:23	#1
johnjacob BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore, INDIA Posts: 344 Thanked: 26 Times	GM launches new look Corsa Just saw this in the Economic Times ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI: General Motors India on Wednesday launched the new look Opel Corsa and said the company was working on new programmes to introduce more special editions of its cars in 2005 to boost sales. GM India increased sales by 74 per cent to 26,000 units in the year 2004. "To make 2005 an even more eventful year, the company is working on several programmes that will enable the launch of special editions and exciting marketing events," GM India said in a press release. The new Opel has been launched across all the Corsa variants with prices ranging from Rs 4,47,468 (ex showroom Delhi) for Corsa Sail to Rs 5,60,924 for Corsa 1.6 GLS. "The New Look Opel Corsa represents an extension of GM's commitment to exceed customer expectations in our products and services. Our new offering raises the bar in terms of value for money in its segment," said Aditya Vij, president and managing director of GM India. GM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of world's largest car maker General Motors Corporation. Besides the Chevrolet Tavera and Optra, GM India manufactures the Opel Corsa, Corsa Sail and Swing at its facility in Halol, Gujarat. GM India also sells the imported Opel Vectra in addition to the Chevrolet Forester. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If this is the facelifted Corsa currently sold in the European markets and in Australia (as the Holden Barina) then GM is offering us too little, too late. The all-new Corsa is due internationally in 2006 (this will share the platform with the next-gen Fiat Punto). What is GM thinking by offering us Indians the previous generation model just before the new one is to be released? RANT: ALL car manufacturers in India (except Hyundai, Honda, maybe Toyota) treat India as a second-rung market and do not introduce their latest models until they are out of date, or at the least, no longer new. Why do they do this?
	() Thanks

9th March 2005, 20:29	#2
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	Are there any pics? Drifter
	() Thanks

9th March 2005, 20:33	#4
Harrie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KA 03, KL 12, TN 38 Posts: 701 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	well that trend will continue just for a few more years. i already see toyota all set to run away in the MPV segment by offering the innova while GM decided to launch the tavera. GM is yet to learn a lesson. maybe it will learn the hard way!
	() Thanks

9th March 2005, 22:42	#8
cream BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 158 Thanked: 4 Times	since the corsa has not done too well in the indian market, maybe GM doesn't want to take the risk of investing - easier to borrow an old assembly line and start rolling out for third worlders like us. remember what toyota did with the qualis? it's all about marketing and positioning. when the qualis was introduced, the competition was sumo, bolero etc - easy meat, so why introduce something good, make money on the old 'matchboxes' with the innova, it's the same - they have introduced this product because there's nothing like this in the market - so easy pickings - why discontinue the qualis? - because the tavera licked it - there was really no future there...so why not die gracefully? it's simple economics - they really don't care about us. the only way this trend will reverse is when competition increases - but not any kind of competition. when the indian market is mature enough to recognise a good product from a bad one -that's when things will really change.
	() Thanks

10th March 2005, 12:38	#10
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 544 Times View My Garage	I have already stated earlier that GM better discontinue the COrsa. it simply doesnt sell and i cant see any reason why the Corsa should still be sold. the only thing going for it is the solid European build ...other than that the car is licked by its competition. better GM concentrate more on the Optra and the Tavera .
	() Thanks

22nd April 2005, 00:00	#11
freakr BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bangalore/vizag Posts: 62 Thanked: Once	hey..corsa sail is supposed to be 1.6 with 92 bhp..wonder why anyone is nt moding the car...is int it compatible for performance mods..i think with a 1.6 engine..it should run better...i have no idea of power to weight ratio of it..could some one tell me about the car..
	() Thanks

22nd April 2005, 00:22	#12
amitverma BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi Posts: 434 Thanked: 168 Times	the engine is too old to be useful for some modding. gm india has to learn that indian market is no cakewalk...cheaper cars dont mean decade old engines...astra, corsa, optra...u name it....n all u get is a @#$%ed-up engine..
	() Thanks

22nd April 2005, 07:52	#15
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	I dont think even GM are convinced about whether the, erm, "new" Corsa will sell. I say it wont, will still remain outdated. The outdated cars are costly because their parts are not produced any more, therefore the companies have to order them again and in a smaller quantity and as we know with almost any automobile part, the less the number ordered, the more the cost for each item.
	() Thanks