GM India to launch second small car

General Motors (GM) India has plans to introduce a second product in the mini to small car segment in the latter part of 2009, and expects to double its market share in India from the current 4% in the next two to three years. The company inaugurated its second plant at Talegaon and rolled out the first Chevrolet Spark. In addition to a car manufacturing plant with an installed capacity to produce 140,000 cars annually, the new state-of-the-art 300-acre facility will also accommodate GMs first ever powertrain plant that will make both diesel and petrol engines. This will go onstream in the first quarter of 2010, and play a major role in increasing the local content in its vehicles from the present 40% to nearly 80-85%, GM President Fritz Henderson said. With US$300 million invested in this project, another US$200 million committed toward the engine facility, GMs total investment in India over the last five years has touched US$1 billion. The combined production capacity at Halol and Talegaon is 225,000 units. (September 3/9, 2008)