General Motors reveals India plans

General Motors’ India unit will aim to triple production by 2013.

The firm’s target of 300,000 sales has been announced as the nation’s economy and demand continues to rise. Last year alone, GM sales rose by 59 per cent to 110,804.

To increase its sales, up to six new models will be introduced by the company within two years – including two commercial vehicles – with a diesel-powered version of the Chevrolet Beat on sale in a “few weeks,” according to company boss, Karl Slym.

GM has already unveiled the first engine developed by its Indian unit: a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which will initially be offered in the Beat from February and later, extended to other models. The locally produced unit will further help the company to compete with rivals such as Suzuki, Hyundai and Ford.

Starting this year, similar models found in China have also been introduced to India, with profit shares expected to rise by five per cent. In addition, GM’s launch on the commercial vehicle sector should prove fruitful.

According to Slym, "In India, 40 per cent of the overall sales of the market are in commercial vehicles, and we don’t sell in that market. That is a big, huge growth area.” 

Read more about General Motor's new engine here