New passenger cars from GM India by end of 2011

General Motors India, a subsidiary of US based leading car maker General Motors, announced on Thursday that it will roll-out some new passenger and commercial vehicles in the country by next year in association with its Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). Last year, General Motors India had become a 50:50 joint venture with US auto giant GM and Chinese SIAC, that invested heavily in its Halol plant in Gujarat to produce light commercial vehicles (LCVs) from SAIC's portfolio. 

Mr Karl Slym, GM India President and Managing Director said while briefing to the reporters on company's plans of launching new vehicles in India, that after the partnership with SAIC, GM in 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 announced 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. The Halol plant has an annual production capacity of 85,000 units where company is currently manufacturing its popular cars in India including Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet U-Va, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet SRV, Chevrolet Optra Magnum, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Tavera and Chevrolet Captiva.