General Motors India launches Smartech petrol engine
By ANIFriday, January 28, 2011
NEW DELHI - Making a slew of sales and products announcements, General Motors (GM) India has launched its made in India new petrol engine in New Delhi which would be fitted into its hatchback beat from next month onwards.
The newly launched engine is called as “Smartech Engine.”
Addressing mediapersons, Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of GM India revealed that the engine was designed by a team of Indian engineers considering the nature of roads, environment and habits of the drivers of the country.
“It was developed in Bangalore. So we have now 2000 engineers in Bangalore and our Indian team there has developed the engine for the use in India, and that is most important because really, we are not taking any engine and describe to make it in India, we have used direct expertise and our Indian engineers, to be able to test the engines and change the engines, in line of the requirements, whether that be environmental, whether it will be road conditions or whether it be the kind of driving habit,” said Slym.
GM expects to triple its auto sales in India to 300,000 units over the next two years.
The U.S. automaker also plans to launch six new vehicles in India over the next two years.
Slym further said that GM expects its India sales to grow at double the pace of the industry in 2011, when the sector is expected to grow at roughly 12 to 15 percent per annum.
“Well, last year, we grew at twice the rate, the 30 percent of the industry and our growth rate was 60 percent. So we are very pleased to grow, therefore we grow in the market share and continue to grow our business in India. So again we would expect to grow well beyond the industry,” said Slym.
Vehicle sales in India grew a record 31 percent in 2010, driven by a burgeoning middle class, but tougher comparisons, rising interest rates and rising fuel and vehicles costs are expected to slow sales growth this year. (ANI)
