General Motors Engine plant to become operational by November

General Motors would introduce engines from its Powertrain manufacturing facility at Talegaon in Maharashtra, by the second week of November, a top company official said. The Powertrain manufacturing facility at Talegaon is the first flexi engine plant of General Motors where both petrol and diesel small car engines would be manufactured together, said P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India. He added that General Motors India had invested a sum of Rs 5,000 crore in India till now and is deeply committed to the market.

Balendran elaborated that the construction of 160,000 unit engine plant was in full swing and the engines would be rolled out of the facility by November second week. This facility is situated at the Talegaon car manufacturing plant premises. It is expected that the Beat LPG version would be launched this year and its diesel engine would be launched from the Talegaon plant. Against last year's 69,579 units, GMI was targeting to sell around one lakh units of cars this year.

Balendran commented that 68,000 units have already been sold during the first six months of this year and the growth was over 80 per cent this year. GMI is aiming at a sales figure of 3,000 units in Kerala during August-September this year. He also qouted that the company has tied up with leading financiers including State Bank of India, HDFC and has worked out low EMSs for Chevrolet range of cars. As, the Chevrolet Spark now comes with free maintenance for 3 years, likewise, the Beat comes with 3 years maintenance for just Rs 5,999. GMI produces the Captiva, Optra, Cruze, Aveo, Aveo U-VA, Spark, Beat and Tavera in India from its manufacturing facilities in Halol in Gujarat and in Talegaon.