GM India misreported facts with knowledge of top brass: Panel

A three-member committee has alleged that General Motors India has misreported facts with complete knowledge of the company's top brass in the case related to July recall of 1.14 lakh Tavera vehicles.

According to sources, the report which has been submitted to the Road Ministry by the panel, has made a clear mention of these facts based on information from the company.

"The company conducted the COP (confirmation of production system) process only of a certain represented sample and not the entire assembly line and this was done in the full knowledge of General Motors India's top management for seven years," sources said.

"We have received the report, it is a bulky report and we need some time to go through it and only then can we comment on it," a Road Ministry official said.

When contacted P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India said: "We are not able to comment as we have not heard from the government or seen the report."

Nitin Gokarn, CEO, National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP), headed the three-member panel, which was also entrusted with the job of deciding on the penalty for the company if it was found guilty of any fraud or violation.

The company, in July, recalled 1.14 lakh units of its multi-purpose vehicle Chevrolet Tavera, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, to address emission and specification issues.

The panel, which was formed in July by the Road Ministry, was investigating alleged non-compliance of emission norms and other violations, if any, by the General Motors India.