GM taking second-hand cars to India
TEXT OF STORY
SCOTT JAGOW: GM has to find people in other countries willing to buy their cars, ’cause let’s face it, Americans aren’t buying American as much anymore. Hello, India. GM said this week it has big plans for India, starting with the sale of used cars. Miranda Kennedy reports from New Delhi.
MIRANDA KENNEDY: In India, the market for cars is growing fast, as household incomes rise.
But people buy twice as many used cars as new, so GM plans to start selling its cars second-hand in the hopes of creating a loyal base of customers.
P Balindran, vice president of corporate communications for GM, says they are expanding here in other ways too.
P BALINDRAN: About three years back we had just one model of car. And the market was also pretty small. But as of today we have a range of products.
GM started off selling luxury sedans here, but they didn’t do so well. So now the automaker has customized its cars for Indians, who want small, cheap, fuel-efficient vehicles.
In the next few months GM says it will launch a new compact model and a mini-car to suit India’s congested roads.
In New Delhi, I’m Miranda Kennedy for Marketplace.
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