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December 3, 2009
Chinese auto giant SAIC Motor and its partner General Motors are expected to announce a joint venture in India tomorrow, Dow Jones reported today, citing a source with knowledge of the matter.

GM already makes passenger vehicles in India, but the new joint venture can expand its operations, the source said. In October, Indian media reported that Shanghai-based SAIC Motor was in talks with GM for exploring opportunities in India, a fast-growing auto market, and close to taking a stake in GM India.

GM and SAIC have passenger and commercial vehicle-making joint ventures in China. The U.S. automaker produces Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet models in Shanghai with SAIC. The partners also manufacture Wuling-brand minivans and pick-up trucks in southern China.

SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, a three-way joint venture between General Motors, SAIC Motor and Wuling Automobile, has been looking at the possibility of bringing its minivans into the Indian car market, Chinese media reported in late October.

SAIC Motor, which anyway plays a greater role with GM in the Chinese market, was tipped to purchase stake in GM India's Talegaon plant. There are reports that different vehicle categories would see their entry in the Indian motor landscape.

With its Indian joint venture to operate, SAIC will be able to get immediate access to the booming Indian market. A wide range of Shanghai GM models, in addition to the Wuling minivans, will be produced and sold in India.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1013195/SAIC-GM-said-to-announce-Indian-JV-on-Friday.html

 

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SAIC pays $500M for 50% stake in GM India

December 28, 2009
Detroit-based General Motors, which entered into a 50:50 joint venture with China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (SAIC) earlier this month to manufacture cars for both the Indian and export markets, has sold 50 per cent of its Indian operations to SAIC for $500 million (Rs 2,350 crore).

GM officials told journalists the company had invested $1 billion (Rs 4,700 crore) in India since beginning operations in 1994. "The $1 billion includes setting up the Talegaon vehicle and power train facilities, Halol car plant, the Gurgaon office and a small portion towards setting up the research and development facility (GM Technical Centre) in Bangalore. About half this amount has been sold to SAIC," says P Balendran, director & vice-president (corporate affairs). However, the R&D centre will continue to remain a 100 per cent subsidiary of GM, USA, and has not been included in this transaction.

SAIC and GM-US formed a 50:50 joint venture investment company called General Motors SAIC Investment Ltd (GMSIL), which will be based in Hong Kong. The new company, with an equity base of $100 million (Rs 470 crore) will utilise GM's Talegaon (in Maharashtra) and Halol (in Gujarat) plants to first manufacture cars and utility vehicles for the domestic market. The new GMSIL has announced an investment of $650 million (Rs 3,055 crore) for the first operational phase in India.

"Under the new set-up, two representatives of SAIC will come on the board (of GM India) and will be based in the country," says Balendran.

As part of this $650 million expansion, GM and SAIC will launch small cars and utility vehicles in the domestic market from the second half of 2011. These will be also exported to other parts of Asia. GM's domestic market share is less than four per cent. GM India's production capacity, currently 60,000 units a year, will be increased to 250,000 units by 2012.

All cars, even those contributed by SAIC, will be branded as Chevrolet, and utility vehicles contributed by SAIC by another name. "Besides, the dealerships for cars and utility vehicles will be separate and physically distinct," says Balendran. In cars, GM SAIC will first launch an 800cc car and an entry-level, mid-size sedan from Wuling's stable. Wuling is the local partner in GM SAIC's Chinese operations.

"In commercial vehicles, we are basically looking at three types. They are the small vans (like Wagon R), pick-up vans (like the Ace), and multi-purpose vehicles (Sumo) from the SAIC product line up," says Balendran.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1013480/SAIC-pays-500M-for-50-stake-in-GM-India.html

 

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GM India to invest 470 crores to manufacture LCVs, mini-trucks

General Motors India, along with its Chinese partners SAIC and Wuling, is developing a new range of LCVs for the Indian market. These low cost LCVs would be rolling out of GM India’s Halol plant by the end-2011. GM India would be investing 470 crore Rupees ($100 million) to produce these LCVs.

GM India’s new range of LCVs would be sold through a separate sales and distribution network and wouldn’t be distributed through the existing network for ‘Chevrolet’ badged passenger cars as the customers for GM’s LCVs would be entirely different form customers for the Chevrolets. Once the production of the LCVs begin, GM’s passenger car production would move to GM’s second plant at Talegaon.

Also the new range of commercial vehicles could get a new ‘Tavera’ badge. The Chevrolet Tavera is quite a popular name in the Indian market is a well known reliable cost-effective people mover and GM India using this name would cash in on the Tavera UV’s popularity.

Karl Slym, President, GM India:
We will be investing $100 million in manufacturing LCVs in India next year. The investment needed in setting up a sales and distribution network would be separate. Together with new car launches and entry into LCVs, GM India sales should triple by 2012.

GM would be launching at least two LCVs in the sub-1 tonne and 1 tonne segment. These LCVs could come with small diesel engines and would compete with the likes of the Tata Ace and Mahindra Maxximo mini trucks. The company would roll out the 1 tonners first and then come with smaller versions to take on the Tata Penguin and Mahindra Gio.

Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2010/06/gm-india-470-crores-investment-for-lcvs#ixzz0rrwdTl2k

 

[lpgautogas]

Thanks for your information thankyou.

 

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Wuling Hongguang and Hongtu caught testing in India:

It is true that General Motors will introduce a few Chinese vans in the Indian market in 2012. These products will be sourced from the SAIC stable. We have caught the HongTu, the EECO challenger on test in Vadodra. While that will take care of bringing volumes from the goods transportation sector, here’s a more interesting vehicle that will give the Xylo a run for its money.

The GM-Wuling Hong Guang was snapped by Auto Bild/CarWale.com reader Mr. Sidh while it was parked in an overnight stay. Earlier this year, the Chinese van, sporting less camouflage, was previous spied in Bangalore. The new images throw light on the interiors.

GM India will rename this vehicle and perhaps sell it under a new brand. The vehicles will wear the Chevy bowtie however. The branding is still work in progress and it is expected to bombard the market in late 2011 or early 2012. As some parts will be sourced from China, the cost of the vehicle is expected to stay below 7.5 lakh rupees.

It can seat 7-8 people in comfort and with flexible rear seating (2nd and 3rd row have flat-folding seats) it can be sold to the taxi markets too. Indians will love the leather seats and beige interiors, but the black dashboard looks bland.

The Hong Guang’s chassis was adjusted and optimized by Lotus Engineering in the United Kingdom. Under the hood, we’re expecting GM to plonk the 1.3-liter SMARTECH XSDE (Multi-jet) engine. GM was also said to be in talks with Piaggio to source a low capacity engine and it remains to be seen if that deal is secured.

Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2011/08/spied-gm-wuling-hong-guang-interiors#ixzz1U9W7kvfm

The GM-Wuling HongTu/N200 was the second car spied by Mr Sidh and posted on CarWale.com/Auto Bild. The HongTu is the second product from the SAIC stable GM India will introduce. GM has to work out a different name for the EECO slayer. Will they call it Sunshine? How will the Nissan Sunny marketing team react to that?

This vehicle is not new to IndianAutosBlog.com readers as our Gujarat based IAB fan Sagar Parikh photographed this vehicle on test a while back. It is equipped with disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear. The mules on test indicate that General Motors will produce luxury variants for passenger application along with cargo variants. Maruti follows a similar strategy branding the load-carrying model as EECO Flexi and Omni Cargo.

A 1.2-liter 85bhp petrol engine is used on the HongTu in China, but what will GM offer for India? Will they use the Beat’s 1.2 SMARTECH engine which is LPG ready? GM has also invested in CNG technology which cargo operators favor. The Beat’s 1-liter diesel is also available if the need arises.

This van is less than 4 meters long and qualifies as a small car for the Indian market. Excise duties will be 12% less and that will lead to an aggressive price.

Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2011/08/gm-wuling-hongtu#ixzz1U9WGTIBg

 

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General Motors has just unveiled two products, Sail hatchback and MPV, brought in from the joint venture partner SAIC’s portfolio. These vehicles will be launched in the market this year. General Motors is not delving into the details and the questions around branding and tech specs will be answered closer to launch.

Sail hatch built for emerging markets – Past 1.5 years in development to meet the demands of the Indian conditions – powered by Smartech diesel and petrol engines – Sail competes in mini segment, one of the world’s most complicated small car segments.

The “All new Chevrolet MPV” (branding not revealed) was designed for consumers wanting space and style – flexible seating – max 7 occupants.

These two products are just the start of the slew of launches in the next two years.

Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2012/01/chevrolet-sail-hatchback-and-mpv#ixzz1ihgQKkbW

more pics at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/notjustshrawan/sets/72157628741305271/

 

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Chevrolet MPV (rebadged Wuling Hongguang) finaly got a name - Enjoy. Here is first review from Autocarindia:
http://www.autocarindia.com/Review/340210,chevrolet-enjoy-review-test-drive-and-video.aspx

 

[dmitra]

MG Motors completes acquisition of GM India's Halol plant

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/mg-motor-opens-first-plant-in-india-406134
https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/saic-announces-over-rs-2000-crore-investment-in-india-operations-405922

Past events leading up to this:

GM reacquires 43% of the Indian operations from SAIC in 2012, taking its own stake to 93%.
Sales of Sail HB, NB and Enjoy, although initially promising, decline precipitously over time.
Owing to losses, GM pares down operations, shutters Halol plant in April '17.
MG Motors India established. Media reports speculate SAIC could be a potential purchaser of this plant.
GM decides to quit Indian market, announces phase-out of Chevrolet brand in May.
GM retains Talegaon plant for exports (Beat HB and NB) and Technical Centre in Bengaluru.