Nexus Automotive announced on Friday that it would begin local assembly of Chevrolet cars in Pakistan from December. According to a press release issued here, Nexus Automotive is targeting the assembly of 4,000 mini-cars in its first full year of production, which would gradually be ramped up to 8,000 vehicles per annum by 2010 in line with the market demand.
The 15 million-dollar programme is expected to create approximately 450 jobs in manufacturing, administration, distribution and sales.
Chairman and CEO of Nexus Automotive, Muhammad A. Razaq said that the new assembly operations would begin assembly with popular Chevrolet 1000 cc cars. The locally built mini-car, which has been available in Pakistan since 2003 as an import, would go on sale by the end of the year at Nexus Automotive's nation-wide network of 10 dealers.
In addition to locally supplied components, the 1000 cc car will be assembled in Karachi from sub-systems supplied by GM's Korean unit, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo). GM Daewoo is overseeing the installation of machinery, instituting advanced manufacturing processes, monitoring the start-up of production and carrying out the training of local personnel at its facilities in Korea.
The manufacturing process and technology employed in Pakistan are first class and essentially the same as those employed by GM Daewoo in Korea, said GM Daewoo President and CEO Nick Reilly. As a result, the locally assembled 1000cc car will meet the highest standards from day one, he added.
"Locally assembling the 1000 cc car will shorten the delivery time and make the vehicle even more economical, Razzaq said adding to its allure, especially with today's skyrocketing fuel prices, is the 1000 cc car's economical 1-liter engine. The 1000cc car is backed up by Nexus Automotive's impeccable after sales service. The locally built 1000 cc car will appeal to Pakistan's growing middle class, including those who are purchasing their first automobile.-PR