GM to sign pact with CSMCRI for Jathropa cultivation

After the successful first phase trial run of bio-diesel blended fuel, auto major General Motors (GM) is likely to sign an agreement with Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) for Jhatropa cultivation, institute officials said.

"As a part of GM's initiative to run its vehicle on bio-diesel blended fuel, the company's Halol unit will be signing an MoU with us for the cultivation of Jhatropa on wasteland," Director CSMCRI Pushpito K Ghosh told PTI.

"We have urged the state government to provide us 50-70 hectares of wasteland in Panchmahal to start the model Jhatropa plantation project," he added.

During the first phase trials, GM manufactured vehicle were run over 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel. The content of bio-diesel as fuel ranged between 10-20 per cent during the testing phase.

"The Halol unit of GM in Vadodara, apprised CSMCRI in June that it has sucessfully conducted first phase trials by running its car 25,000 kilometres on bio-diesel blended fuel," institute official said.

The bio-diesel was supplied to GM by CSMCRI for first phase trials, and going forward the auto major has plans to collaborate with the institute to meet its further requirements, officials said.

"The quality of our bio-diesel is so good that no alteration in car engines is required. Soon trial runs for running vehicles on hundred per cent bio-diesel fuel will be conducted," Ghosh said.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govt-delays-3g-spectrum-auction/18/41/51952/on

GM Gears Up For Launch of Mini Car Next Year

14/11/2008 Pune The Economic Times
General Motors (GM), plans to roll out its new mini car next year from its Talegaon plant, near Pune. This will be followed by the launch of a sedan category car named Cruz by 2010.

The mini car, which is yet to be named, will initially use imported parts for production. This will be localised later, said P Balendran, director and vice president (corporate affairs). The company plans to upgrade its existing models too, he added.

Though the parent company in the US is pleading for a bailout, GM India is on track with its plans, Mr Balendran said. GM India started making profits from 2004. The $200 million engine plant near the car plant in Talegaon has already started and will be fully commissioned by 2010. This the first flexi engine plant in the world which can produce petrol and diesel engines on the same line. The plant has a total capacity of 1,60,000 units.

The company is neither reducing production, nor going for a lay off. In fact, we are adding our head count. The second production unit in Talegaon enabled us to meet the increase in demand for the entry car segment. At present, the plant is working in single shift and produces around 200 cars per day. By next year we are planning second shift too, said Mr Balendran." The company is targeting a market share of 10% by 2010.

GM to hire 500 new workers for Talegaon plant

NEW DELHI: It may be laying off factory workers in its troubled home market US, but General Motors will be hiring new workers in India at its new plant at Talegaon in Maharashtra as the company expands .

"Recruitment is on at full swing in India and we plan to hire as many as 500 new workers for our Talegaon plant in the coming months," GM India president and MD Karl Slym told TOI.

The company, that has its first plant at Halol in Gujarat, started production at Talegaon only in September and is now ramping up output from the new factory to produce new models as well as increase production of its mini car `Spark'. Slym said the new workers would be recruited for the car plant at Talegaon and also for the company's upcoming powertrain facility in the same area. "We have already hired 700 workers at the factory," he said, adding that the new recruits would be full-time workers.

The hiring plans in India come in stark contrast to the grim situation that the world's largest automaker faces in the US, where a huge reversal in sales and mounting losses has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. The company said earlier this week that it plans to lay off a fresh 1,900 factory workers at its factories in North America to cut expenses in order to deal with a worsening cash crisis. The new layoffs would be in addition to the 3,600 factory layoffs announced last week.

Slym downplayed any major negative effect on the company's India subsidiary due to the worsening conditions in the US. "Operationally, we are fully capable of looking after ourselves," he said, pointing out that a majority of the $1 billion investments announced for India had already been made.

"We are self sufficient here and all our plans are intact and on course," he said. P Balendran, director and VP at GM India, said the company was making operating profits since 2004. "We are a debt free company and most of our expansion plans are being met through internal accruals," he said.

Slym said the company would be driving in two new cars next year. While one would be the Cruze sedan that would compete with models like Honda Civic, the other will be a new mini car. "India is an emerging market, which to a certain degree is immune to the current downturn. We have a strategic plan for the market," he said, adding that the company continues to hold on to its target of a 10% market-share by 2010.

And as the company eyes a bigger play in India, it is expanding its marketing and service network in the market. It announced a tie-up with Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) for providing after sales service at select workshops of the state-run oil firm. By this year-end, the company plans to begin services at 15 such `V Care' branded outlets and expand this to 35 next year.

Slym said GM also plans to double component sourcing from India to $1 billion by 2010. GM sourced about $300 million in auto parts in 2007, which is expected to increase to half a billion dollars this year, he said. The company buys auto parts such as casting and machining parts from more than 50 suppliers in India.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/GM_to_hire_500_new_workers_for_Talegaon_plant/articleshow/3720247.cms