GM India's 2nd plant to be operational by year-end

Kochi, Jan 17 (UNI) General Motors India's (GM India) second plant in the country is fast nearing completion at Talegaon near Pune in Maharashtra and is expected to commence production by the year-end, GM India President and Managing Director Karl Slym said today.

Addressing a press conference here to mark the Kerala launch of General Motors' Chevrolet Captiva premium sports utility vehicle, he said the Talegaon plant would have an annual production capacity of 140,000 vehicles.

The capacity of the company's first plant at Hallol near Baroda in Gujarat had also been expanded from 60,000 units to 85,000 units in April last year, he said.

Speaking about Chevrolet Captiva, priced at Rs 17.74 lakh, Mr Slym said GM India was hoping to sell about 1,000 units of the vehicle all over the country this year and about 100 in Kerala.

Kochi was the third place in the country where the vehicle had been launched after Delhi and Kolkata, he added.

He said the Captiva had been warmly welcomed in markets around the world due to its combination of distinctive styling, refinement, best-in-class safety, comfort and power. Despite its SUV pedigree, it was ideal for urban commuting because of its trim exteriors and power steering system, he added.

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