GM Daewoo Boosts Production

South Korea's third-largest automaker GM Daewoo has started two-shift operations at its second plant in Bupyong near Seoul to meet rising demand for its first sport-utility vehicle, the Winstorm, and its mid-size Tosca passenger car.

The two-shift operations, coming after the rehiring of the automaker's fired workers, signals that the automaker is on the right track now following GM's takeover of then-bankrupt Daewoo Motor in October 2002.

The daily production capacity of Bupyong's second plant will rise to 620 units from 310 units as the automaker is trying to meet rising sales in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific countries and the Middle East.

The SUV will be sold overseas as the "Captiva" by Chevrolet and Holden. With CKDs to ChinaMiddle East counted, GM Daewoo exports more than 90 percent of its vehicles. and the

This year, GM Daewoo expects to sell a total of 1.5 million vehicles from last year's 1.15 million in 2005.

Bupyong's second plant has been on one-shift operations since August 1999 while other plants, including those in Gunsan, Changwon and Bupyong's number-one plant in South Korea, have been on two-shift operations.

- Peter Chang at www.thecarconnection.com -