GM plans new variants on Spark platform

3 November, 2007

Fresh from the success of its small car Spark, General Motors plans to plans to make more small car variants on the same platform starting 2008.

Besides, GM India’s second car plant is under development at Talegaon in Maharashtra plus another engine and powertrain facility is also being planned for the country. The new models will be rolled out of the Talegaon facility from 2008, said a report. The new engine and transmission facility is expected to come up in Maharashtra, since production of new car models from GM would be done in the state at Talegaon. The existing facility at Halol in Gujarat, is finding it hard to keep up with the demand with the plant running at peak capacity.

The company’s plans to establish an engine and powertrain facility come following the need to begin exports in a big way. GM currently imports engines for all the vehicles it sells in India except for the Tavera, which uses engines made by Hindustan Motors. Imported engines attract up to 80 per cent duties.

GM is also lining up the SUV Captiva slated for launch during the Auto Expo in January 2008. The Captiva would initially be imported in the CBU form. This is apart from the planned variants which are being worked upon on the Spark platform.

The carmaker’s plans are being bolstered by the demand for its cars following the success of the Spark. It remains to be seen whether the new variants made on the Spark platform would work as per expectations.