Auto India, Car India

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GM is planning to launch its latest compact global car in 2010 which is being produced by the auto manufacturers R&D facility in a Bangalore.

General Motors also declared that they would introduce their Chevy Volt - First Electric car, in India next year. Apart from extra investment of $500M to be invested for their different car models in coming 7-years, the US manufacturer already has invested $1B in Indian market.

The company thinks that the India would become the export base for company in coming years as they raises capacity of recently commissioned car and the engine plant in a Talegaon, Maharashtra from 140K units to 300K units. But it lined out the entry into Rs 1 lakh car segment, which was under inspection for some period by US company.

We see a great potential in the Chevrolet brand and will continue to follow a two pronged strategy which includes adding new upgrades of the exisiting models and add on newer models in all segments of the Chevrelot stable.

- Mr. Fritz Henderson (President and COO of GM) said.

Mr. Henderson also included that above a period of 7-years General Motors would spend another $500 M moreover in Indian market for automation of plants and the new models making India the feasible market for the exports.

We have a tripartite venture in China between GM, SAIC and Wuling which manufactures a cheap mini car priced less than US $ 5,000. But we have no plans to bring it into India.

- Mr. Karl Sim (GM’s President and MD of India) said.

Mr. Sim also added that powertrain calibration and delay of mini global compact car has to be modified to Indian conditions. General Motors has already Spark and Uva in a compact segment.
GM is also researching on car which uses the Jetropha - the bio fuel in India and expects to launch cars which sprint on such fuel as and when an availability of bio-fuels get better in country.