GM may produce new electric car in India

General Motors (GM) India will showcase a new electric car for global market on June 5th 2011. The company has announced that it will consider producing this electric car, at its Talegon plant in Maharashtra.

This is likely a move to symbolize the company’s environment friendly ideals since June 5^th is celebrated as the World Environment Day.

“We will be showcasing an electric mini-car in June,” Karl Slym, GM India President and MD was quoted as saying by the PTI.

He added that the new electric car has been developed in the US and is meant for a global audience. When questioned as to when the electric car will be launched in India, Slym said that it will depend on the feedback from its global customers.

He added that the upcoming electric mini-car will have a lithium ion battery to run the car’s motor. Also read: Chevrolet Beat EV

GM India electric car

Earlier CarToq has reported that GM India may unveil the electric car this year and it could be based on the Chevrolet Beat small car. There were speculations that the new electric car from GM might use the technology from the Chevrolet e-spark concept. GM India had developed the Spark concept with its partner, REVA in 2010.

Slym had however clearly mentioned that this mini electric car is different from what GM India was developing with Reva (i.e, e-spark). He further stressed that the Reva project is now completely closed.

It is well known to the public that GM had originally planned to develop its electric car in partnership with Reva last year. However, it pulled out of the tie-up after Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Reva in May 2010.

Chevrolet Beat diesel launch in June

GM India is planning to launch the Beat diesel version this June and it will be priced at around 10-15% more than the petrol version which has a price range of Rs. 3.55 lakh to Rs. 4.66 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Also read: GM to introduce CNG and LPG variants on cars

The Beat diesel will be powered by a 1.0 litre diesel engine that has been developed by GM India’s R&D facility in Bangalore.

GM India production plans

GM India is currently preparing two production plants for dishing out more cars. The Talegaon facility has a production capacity of 1.4 lakh units per annum which was scaled up to three lakh units per annum. GM India’s second production facility is located in Halol, Gujarat and manufactures 85,000 units per year. Now GM India is on process of upgrading it to 1.1 lakh units per annum.