By Kim Tae-gyu
Global companies in Korea are striving to learn secrets of GM Korea, which has chalked up fast growths this year in the competitive local automotive market with its 100-year-old Chevrolet brand.
At the requests of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other global chambers of commerce, GM Korea invited a group of executives from foreign-invested firms here to its head office in Incheon.
Ever since GM introduced the Chevrolet brand early this year, the automaker has unveiled such successful products as the Chevrolet Orland, the Chevrolet Aveo and the Chevrolet Captiva.
``This year, GM officially introduced Chevrolet in Korea. That was eight months ago. The results have been outstanding. We have successfully launched eight new products, which is unprecedented in the global auto industry for such a short period of time,’’ GM Korea CEO Mike Arcamone said in a meeting with high-profile visitors.
``Since Chevrolet’s introduction in March, GM Korea’s year-on-year sales have risen by a pleasing 20.8 percent, which is the highest sales gain in GM Korea’s history.’’
As other key factors to its success this year, Arcamone picked its upgraded showrooms and after sales service networks as well as its industry-leading customer car service, dubbed Chevy Care 3-5-7.
On the back of such efforts, GM Korea has positioned itself as the No. 3 player in the local markets, chasing only the two strong market leaders of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors.
``GM Korea looks forward to building on our momentum with the Chevrolet brand in order to become a true global auto industry leader,’’ Arcamone said.
``Based on what you saw during the plant and design center tour, I’m sure you can understand why we are confident that GM Korea will achieve this goal.’’