GM India to launch an LCV by Dec 2010

General Motors India, a 50:50 partnership between China based Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and US based General Motors, is eying to launch light commercial vehicle in the Indian market. The vehicle will be manufactured at SIAC's commercial vehicle platform and it will possibly be exported to foreign markets also. According to Mr Joseph YH Liu, Shanghai General Motors Corporation executive president, at present the company is conducting a market research for introducing its products in India through its joint venture.

Recently, GM India had announced that it will roll-out an LCV in the Indian Market by the end of this year. Mr Karl Slym, GM India president and managing director, has announced that after the partnership with SAIC, GM India has a wider menu to choose from with products from SAIC also available. By the end of next year or early 2012, the company plans to launch LCVs in one-tonne capacity, which could be simultaneously followed by passenger cars.

In December last year, the company had said that it will manufacture its commercial vehicles in India at its Halol facility, following the shifting of production of GM's utility vehicles like Tavera to its Talegaon plant. It is also expected that the company will also analyze the possibilities of exporting these LCVs to markets like South America and Southeast Asia.

GM India has grown considerably well in past few months, after the launch of its compact-car Chevrolet Beat in January. At present is sells more than half a dozen vehicles in India across all segments. This includes small cars Chevrolet Beat, spark, sedans like Chevrolet Aveo, Optra Magnum and Cruze.