General Motors Engine plant to become operational by November

This is GM's first flexi engine plant where both petrol and diesel small car engines would be manufactured together, General Motors India Vice President P Balendran told reporters here. GMI had invested Rs 5,000 crore in India so far and was deeply committed to the market, he said.

Construction of the 160,000 unit engine plant was in full swing and the engines would be rolled out of the facility by November second week, he said. The facility is at the Talegaon car manufacturing plant premises. This year Beat LPG version would be launched and its Diesel engine would be rolled out of Talegaon plant, he said.

GMI was targetting to sell over one lakh units of cars this year nationally against last year's 69,579 units. During the first six months of this year, already 68,000 units have been sold and the growth this year was over 80 per cent, he said.

In Kerala, the car maker was aiming sales of 3,000 units during August-September this year against last year's 'Onam' festival season sale of 1,250 units. Announcing special schemes during 'Onam', he said the company has tied up with leading financiers, including State Bank of India, HDFC and worked out low EMSs for Chevrolet range of cars.

GMI produces the Captiva, Optra, Cruze, Aveo, Aveo U-VA, Spark, Beat and Tavera in India from its manufacturing facilties in Halol in Gujarat and in Talegaon.