GM India to launch electric car

General Motors India may launch its first electric car in 2012-13. And that will be a compact car which is currently under development. The global launch of the car is scheduled for next year.

Speaking to Autocar India, Karl Slym, President & MD, GM India said the mini electric car will be suitable for congested traffic condition in our cities, and the introduction could be “within a couple of years”. Earlier this year, GM had showcased a purely electric concept car called Electric Networked Vehicle or EN-V in China. Responding to a query on the possible India launch of GM’s much hyped electric car –Volt, Slym said that he’s “not sure” if there’s a market for the Volt in India. The Volt’s global launch is scheduled for November this year.

Around that time, GM India will launch a LPG version of its Beat, followed by a 1-litre diesel engine powered Beat early in 2011. The company launched a CNG version of its Aveo sedan with a price tag of Rs. 6.31 lakh ex-showroom, Mumbai.

Buoyed by good demand in the market, GM India expects to sell 1.2—1.3 lakh cars during this year, as against 69579 cars in 2009. The company has sold 60227 cars during during the first six months of this year, and will surpass last year’s total sales in August.