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Daewoo's Matiz enters Guinness for fuel efficiency

Daewoo Motor Corporation's best-selling small car, the Matiz, achieved an honour by driving into the Guinness Book of Records as the most fuel-efficient car with an efficiency of 32.01 km to a litre of petrol.

With this, the car broke the record held by the Barina of General Motors which gave a mileage of 29.11 km to a litre of petrol, a statement issued by Daewoo said.

The Matiz entered the Guinness Book of World Records for an economy drive in Australia from Melbourne to South Darwin on 121.83 litres of regular unleaded fuel covering a distance of 3,899.8 km against Barina's record of 1,019 km. The Matiz stretched 1,111 km from Kulgera to Elliot on 34.44 litres. The project was taken by an economy drive expert John Taylor and was conducted under the supervision of a Guinness representative.

In order to set a new fuel economy mark, the economy driver maintained a constant speed of 66 kmph, kept the airconditioner off throughout the drive and did not put any additional load. To conserve fuel, smooth acceleration was consciously maintained for constant speed and the car was driven in the recommended gear shift pattern. Gear change was also avoided as much as possible and specified tyre inflation pressure was maintained.

The car has already won 12 awards, including nine international awards, the highest ever to be won by any single car model. Despite being a slow starter in India, sales of the Matiz have now caught on and the company sold 40,217 units in the 1999-2000 fiscal.

According to the Korean Automobile Manufacturers' Association, in the 1999 calendar year, Daewoo controlled 78.3 per cent marketshare in Korea, leaving behind Hyundai with a meagre 15.8 per cent and Kia-Visto with 5.8 per cent.

Out of the total car exports of 346,397 units from Korea, Daewoo alone exported 271,388 units. Against this, Hyundai's total export stood at only 54,808 units of Atoz followed by 20,201 units of Kia Visto.

Daewoo India not to launch MUVs in India

Daewoo Motors India Limited has decided against introducing its range of multi-utility vehicles in India and is now planning to launch its top-of-the-line luxury car 'Nubira-II' in sedan and station-wagon versions, sporting 1600cc and 1800cc engines, a senior company official said in New Delhi.

The cars, prices of which are yet to be finalised, will be positioned above the Mitsubishi Lancer and is expected to hit the streets by the end of the 2000 calendar year, DMIL Deputy Managing Director B S Min said.

''We have targetted to launch the car by the year-end, but the exact launch would depend on the restructuring of the parent company -- Daewoo Motor Corporation. Depending on its restructuring, the final launch schedule might even be delayed beyond the year-end,'' Min added.

Regarding the versions on Nubira-II, he said, the company is planning both 1.6 litre and a 1.8 litre engine on the car. ''We are also looking at introducing the car in a sedan version and also as a station-wagon. But the launch model is yet to be finalised.''

The car would be introduced with a large local content level as the company is already producing the 1.6 litre engine at its Surajpur unit in India. ''The basic engine is the same but it delivers a greater pick-up and power.''

Regarding the company decision not to launch the Mum in India, Min said, ''Daewoo has a range of MUVs but our study reveals that the Indian market is not yet ready for these models. So we have decided to concentrate on making passenger cars for the present.''

It may be recalled that DMIL Managing Director and CEO Young-Chang Kim had recently announced that Nubira-II would be launched by November this year in the price bracket of Rs 900,000 to Rs 1.1 million.

The company has also embarked on a restrunturing exercise that hinges on cost reductions to boost bottomlines. However, there are no job-cuts on the anvil.

UNI

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