Chevy happy with 2007 performance

AUTOMOBILES

Chevy happy with 2007 performance

Chevrolet Sales Thailand says it is pleased with its 2007 results despite a challenging economy, and optimistic that next year will be even better.

The company said it had successfully maintained the number five spot in overall market share and the number three spot in car sales for the third consecutive year in Thailand.

Sales have been rising since July, coinciding with the start of an economic upturn. Chevrolet has sold out its 2007 Aveo and Colorado models and is seeing strong demand for the popular Captiva SUV. In addition, the NGV Optra, which runs on natural gas for vehicles, is fully booked through January.

The company expects its dealer network to grow to more than 100 showrooms across the country by year-end.

''This is quite an accomplishment in any year and even more impressive when we look at the circumstances in which we found ourselves back in June,'' said John Thomson, vice-president of sales, marketing and after sales.

''The NGV Optra has been more successful than we imagined. If petrol prices remain high, we expect this segment to skyrocket next year. We'll be increasing our output of CNG Optras next year to keep up with the demand.''

One of Chevrolet's key areas of focus is the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado, the first makeover for the pickup since its introduction.

Chevrolet will also open a new training centre in Nonthaburi next year for sales staff and technicians. It is double the size of the current facility. Chevrolet also is working with five technical universities to further develop its human resource capabilities.

''Although we have been through a challenging year overall, we are quite happy with the outcome,'' said Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors Southeast Asia Operations Ltd. ''We are optimistic that the economy will continue to improve after the elections later this month. It is plausible that the upturn we're seeing now is an early reflection of that consumer optimism.''

Chevrolet Sales Thailand recently appointed a dealership in Phattalung to strengthen the company's sales network in southern Thailand.

Thaiyont Intercar Ltd, the operator of Chevrolet Phatthalung, offers a full-scale sales and services dealership with a service area of 4,900 square metres. The company has also been appointed to develop dealership networks in Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and Satun provinces.