General Motors to launch six new vehicles in two years

KOLKATA - Buoyed by the strong growth in automobile industry across India, General Motors is set to expand its presence in the country and is planning to launch six new vehicles in the next two years, a senior company official said Friday.

“Indian automobile industry has recorded a 26 percent growth during the last financial year. To cash in on this boom, we will introduce six new models by 2012 and expand our presence by increasing the number of sales points,” said P.Balendran, vice president (Corporate Affairs) of General Motors, during an auto show here at Salt Lake Stadium.

The products lined-up include a pickup, a van, a hatchback, a notchback, a small car and an SUV.

Till now, the company has invested over $1 billion in the Indian market and the new models will be introduced with the help of its Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), he said.

“Now, our capacity is 225,000 units. We want to increase the production in Baroda facility from 140,000 to 160,000 and that of Pune plant from 85,000 to 100,000 units per year,” he said.

Balendran, who is also a member of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), said: “West Bengal is one of the most important markets for the automobile industry, as it is growing at above 25 percent in passenger car segment. The share of the state to the total sales of the country is 13 percent.”