GM,Chinese partner rev up to hit Indian roads

“To begin with,both the companies will pump in $50 million each into this joint venture and will enhance it later based on the requirement and introduction of other products,” said P Balendran,vice-president,corporate strategy,General Motor India,adding that the first vehicle will be

launched by 2011.

Balendran said the joint venture partners will start with manufacturing one-tonne range of light commercial vehicles at its Halol plant in Gujarat. This will be followed by passenger cars at a later stage at the company’s Talegaon plant in Pune,where the small cars are currently being manufactured now.

“We are in the process of finalising the details of the association and may complete the process in three months or even in two weeks. While global majors are looking at India as a market for their operations,this JV will look at it the other way. Not only do we plan to

target the domestic market,but also focus on exports in a big way,” said Balendran.

The joint venture will create huge job opportunities and revenue from exports and the tie-up will give GM India access to mini commercial vehicles and other products from the stable of GM’s joint ventures in China,the company said in a statement.