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 India Creates New Marketing Entity Christened “General Motors (India) Marketing Private Limited”

New Delhi: General Motors India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation that manufactures and sells Chevrolet products in India, today announced the creation of its sales and distribution company entitled General Motors (India) Marketing Private Limited. As a part of the restructuring and realignment of its corporate structure, GM India is transferring its sales, marketing and distribution activities to the new entity, while all manufacturing activities will remain with General Motors (India) Private Limited.

Speaking about this realignment, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, GM India said, “The new company, General Motors (India) Marketing Private Limited will be operational soon. “With GM’s operations in India expanding significantly in size and scale, it has become necessary to bring greater focus and efficiency to selling and distributing our world-class products and services. This move will help us improve planning, inventory management, transport management, timely delivery and thus, maximize cost synergies.”

Formation of the new company follows GM India’s state of the art Greenfield plant at Talegaon commencing production on 2nd September, 2008. The restructuring exercise, which is expected to result in significant cost efficiencies, will also involve the transfer of some employees who are currently engaged in sales, marketing and distribution activities to the new company.

“General Motors (India) Marketing Private Limited will also help us to unlock value in the near future which, in turn, will seek to optimize effectiveness and maximize efficiency of the company,” added Mr. Balendran.



GM India’s network expansion is in full swing with 122 sales points and 129 service outlets already operational across the country. . With a view to further widen the customer reach, the company intends to put in place at least 145 sales points and 160 service outlets by this year end. .

General Motors India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation, with two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at Halol, Gujarat and Talegaon in Maharashtra. The company makes the Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet SRV, Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Captiva for the Indian market.

GM India’s Talegaon Facility Set to Commence Production Next Month

New Delhi: General Motors India’s second manufacturing plant at Talegaon, Maharashtra is all set to commence production from the first week of September 2008. The new plant will have an initial production capacity of 140,000 units per year which could be further ramped up depending on future requirements. The new facility at Talegaon is spread over 300-acres of land and was set up with an initial investment in excess of Rs 1400 crores. This will take the company’s annual manufacturing capacity to 225,000 vehicles annually.

Speaking on this landmark development, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, GM India said, “The new manufacturing facility comes as a testimony to the success of the GM carlines in India. We have witnessed an overwhelming response to our Chevrolet brand of vehicles in past few years. With the enhanced capacity we would be able to satisfy the ever growing demand for our carlines and remain committed to introducing world class products for our esteemed customers.”

GM India’s existing manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat is already producing cars at its expanded capacity of 85,000 units per annum owing to the increased demand of its Chevrolet brand of vehicles.

With the production capacity growing up to 225,000 vehicles annually, GM India’s network expansion drive for service centres is in full swing and 128 locations across India have now been covered with the state-of-the-art, customer-friendly, quick-response service points. By the end of this year, GM India intends reach out even better to its valued customers with a total of 190 sales points and service outlets across the country.

It may be recalled that General Motors India recently announced a Limited Period Offer for the Chevrolet Spark (with air-conditioning system) at an incredible starting price of Rs. 2.66 lakhs (ex showroom, Delhi).The special price is a result of improved localization of the Spark coming out of operational efficiencies due to increase in production volume.
General Motors India is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat. The company makes the Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet SRV, Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Captiva for the Indian market.