The company's deputy managing director in-charge of corporate affairs & communications, Byung-Soh Min, noted that the company was expected to bag another order for 2,500 cars by the end of this financial year. Though export of Matiz started in mid-1998 from Korea, a couple of months after its international launch, this is the first time the Korean giant will be exporting the small 800cc car from India.

According to Korean Automobile Manufacturers' Association (KAMA) figures, Matiz exports to Europe accounted for 61.3 per cent of total Korean car exports from that country in 1998-99. In fact, between April and October 1999, Matiz had grabbed a 75.7 per cent market share in the Italian market in the small car segment. According to company top brass, till now, Daewoo has exported around 40,000 Matiz models out of Korea to Europe.

During 1998-99, Matiz had a 70.9 per cent share in the Korean small car segment. However, between April and October 1999, Matiz sales declined and according to the latest KAMA figures, it sold 44,537 cars and now has 59.6 per cent of the market share.

Buoyed by the independent credit rating report of JD Power in which Matiz was ranked higher to that of its rival Santro from the Hyundai stable and by the 13.71 per cent increase in sales in India in October over September, the company is planning a second shift at its Surajpur plant in Noida. Managing director SG Awasthi said the import order from Europe for 2,500 cars will be supplied by March 2000.

Cielo CNG in December
Daewoo Motors India is planning to launch a CNG version of the Cielo Executive in December, according to managing director SG Awasthi. The company had sold around 45,000 Cielo cars since 1995, he added. Company officials said all Daewoo models were Euro II complaint from day one. The company is planning to launch an interactive website as part of its efforts to revamp the communication channels with its target audience.