GM’s local operations seen to expand 3%-5% this year

General Motors Automobiles Philippines (GM) is expecting the local market to expand by a modest three percent to five percent this year, GM executive director for ASEAN operations William Botwick said yesterday.

However, Botwick said GM has still has no plans to put up assembly operations in the country despite optimism of a growing market.

He explained that GM wants a "slow steady growth that is sustainable rather than a sudden growth."

GM, Botwick disclosed, is planning to invest $100 million over the next 12 months for its operations in South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

The bulk of the $100 million, Botwick said, would go to increase the manufacturing capacity of its plant in Thailand.

Botwick refused to disclose how much would be allocated for the Philippines where GM simply sells its imported vehicles.

Botwick made a brief visit to the country to bid farewell to James Lim, GM’s president and general manager in the Philippines for the past three years, and who will be replaced by Francis Burdett.

According to Lim, GM will be introducing sometime next year a new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) that will be manufactured in Thailand.

At present, GM locally sells the compact sedan Optra and the large SUVs Tahoe, Trailblazer and Suburban.

The Optra is GM’s best-seller, accounting for 70 percent of its local sales.

Botwick admitted that GM has no plans to offer its sports car Corvette model locally, but is capable of servicing all GM models at its local service branches in the country.