Chevrolet is looking to the business market for long-term growth, though it’s got to wait for a product line-up that will be attractive to fleets.
“The UK is recognised as one of Chevrolet’s most significant growth opportunities, it’s crucial to Chevrolet’s future sales expansion,” said Chevrolet UK’s managing director Rory Harvey. “When you look at fleet and our particular CO2 and P11D, we don’t have a huge candidate to gain fleet volume in the short term. In 2009 we’ll be more attractive to fleet,” hinting at new diesel engines to accompany the new models coming through in the next 24 months.
Harvey is aiming for 2% of the UK market, up from the current 0.65%.
The start point for the growth is the Chevrolet Captiva (pictured), the first of six new models by 2010. “It’s a big transition and a good next step for Chevrolet,” said Harvey. “We’re price and value conscious but style is important. It gives us a chance to build as a brand, it’s a halo vehicle.”
He predicted the Captiva will sell more than 2000 units in 2007 and 4000 in 2008. The off-roader will be followed by the new Kalos supermini and new Lacetti lower medium car in 2008, and the Tacuma mini-MPV in 2009.