Gm India - the Unending Comedy Show

The company plans to launch three (make that four,affected his string plucking capability. Car no. 3, the
only the Spark / Matiz isn't quite ready) cars in 2006five door version of the Lacetti / Optra to be sold as
and the marketing head feels that this is the year ofthe Optra SR-V (yes that is an acronym, SR-V
GM. Yes, and this is also the year when the US of Astands for Sports Recreational Vehicle. Go Honda, sue
starts getting addicted to health food. If selling a littlethem!), a five door hatchback that GM hopes to use
more than 2000 cars a month is GM India's idea ofas a brand builder. Then came the earlier troupe
dominating 2006 then the guys seriously need to lookagain, only in wilder ensemble and louder music
outside the windows of their plush office building toaccompanied by some cheerleading calls. Groan!
see the road below which is choc-a-bloc with SuzukisAnd it wasn't finished yet. As soon as the emcee
and Hyundais.(Meyhar Bhasin, I hope thats how she spells her
The car launch (actually, it was just an unveiling toname now) had finished explaining that this was the
bask in the Auto Expo's warmth) was a testimony tomost important event in Indian history after
why GM is slowly heading towards bankruptcy. Ladiesindependence, the same troupe returned yet again,
and Gentlemen, here is the Aveo U-VA (no that'sthankfully this time to the Chevrolet theme. Now I
supposed to only rhyme and is not antreally love the Chevrolet theme music, probably the
acronym...oooaaah, oova, uva, get it? No? Nevermind.)only thing that I love about GM India's marketing, but
Promptly a dance trope started their gig. After aboutI think that GM has reached the end of the road as
five minutes of irritating loud music, one could startfar as the theme music's iterations are concerned.
making out that this is the hatchback version of theMost irritatingly, the press kits did not have any
Aveo. Car no.2, this is the Aveo. The four-door Ispecifications or prices. They just wanted to unveil
mean. Now came a fusion performance (it was good,the cars, you see. launch will be starting next month
thank you GM, I forgive you) featuring the Parikramaand I am sure that the price announcements will be
guitarist Sonam Sherpa and some other guys. Sonamanother reason to do a press con. No wonder they
has really bloated though that has thankfully notare losing money.