General Motors (India) announced on Friday that it has decided to postpone the launch of its electric car, which was earlier scheduled for December. Karl Slym, Managing Director, said the decision predates the recent takeover of Maini Motors, the largest Indian manufacturer of electric cars by Mahindra and Mahindra. “We have decided to use our own design centres in Bangalore and Detroit to develop electric cars for the Indian market,” Mr. Slym said.
Mr. Slym said, “The Chevorlet Volt, an extended vehicle (EV), which uses an internal combustion engine to recharge the battery, would be available in the U.S. market by end-2010, and this would be available in India in 2011.”
The company expects to sell about 4,000-5,000 units in 2011.
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The company is planning to launch a light commercial vehicle in collaboration with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). “The architecture for the vehicle may come from China, but it will be manufactured in India,” he said.
Mr. Slym said his company was keen to strengthen its presence in India because the LCV market was growing at about 25 per cent now.
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Mr. Slym, who was here to attend the Global Investors Meet, said the headcount at the company's design centre here would be increased from 1,600 to 2,100 by the end of the year. He said the value of components sourced from suppliers in India amounted to $500 million in the January-March quarter.