General Motors India is planning to introduce a new LCV range in 2011 followed by two more car models.
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As previously announced, the commercial vehicles and cars will be designed by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).
“We are planning to introduce three LCVs and two cars in the Indian market from our Chinese venture,” Chevrolet India vice president P Balendran told just-auto on the sidelines of the 50th annual conference of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
He added: “The first LCV of one tonne capacity will be launched in the first half of 2011.” Asked about the cars, Balendran added: “One will be the sedan version to be launched first and later a mini car on the Spark and Beat platform.”
Asked about the timings he said: “We have yet not taken any decision.”
GM will launch a diesel version of the Beat in the first quarter of 2011.
GM and SAIC would likely pump in fresh investment at the Halol plant in Gujarat to manufacture LCVs.
“We have not finalised the investment details but on an industry average it takes about US$50m per vehicle to change the tooling in an existing plant,” Balendran noted.
GM India currently manufactures the Spark, U-Va, Aveo, SRV, Optra Magnum, Cruze, Tavera and Captiva at its two factories in Halol and Talegaon.
COMMENT: Chinese help for GM India makes sense
