Made-in-India Essentia and new Beat for exports only

There could have been the launch of three new Chevrolet products in 2017. These plans have now been shelved in the wake of General Motor’s decision to pull out of the Indian market. Effectively, this puts an end to all ongoing production, marketing and after-sales preparation towards the Chevrolets' launches here.

The new Beat, a major upgrade of the outgoing car, rather than an all-new model, received a more modern face and a premium interior with features like Chevrolet’s MyLink touchscreen infotainment system. Engines were likely to include three-pot motors – the current car’s 1.0-litre diesel and a new 1.0-litre petrol.

Other products in the pipeline, which now won’t make it to India, are Beat Activ, a crossover version of the Beat hatchback, and the Beat Essentia sedan. The latter, a compact sedan first showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo, was based on the new Beat and expected to be positioned half a segment below the current crop of compact sedans as a direct contender to the Tata Tigor.

However, these models will continue to be manufactured as the company plans to make its factory at Talegaon an export hub for Mexico and the Central and South American markets. GM already launched the Beat for these export markets and the Essentia is expected to follow soon.

In the past couple of months, there have been several sightings of these left-hand-drive camouflaged models being tested around the plant.