Chevrolet Beat to launch 'SMARTECH' engine in Feb

General Motors India will launch its 1.2-litre SMARTECH engine, which is set to power the Chevrolet Beat from next month, a top company executive said here today.

Chevrolet Beat is one of their popular vehicle in mini cars segment, fitted with locally developed state-of-the art 'SMARTECH' engine.

Talking to reporters about the launch of 'SMARTECH' engine here, General Motors India President and MD, Karl Slym said the diesel version of the vehicle will also be launched by the end of this year.

On the expansion programme of the company, he said GM India plans to introduce light commercial vehicles by the end of this year or early next year.

The Halol Plant at Gujarat with an installed annual capacity of 85,000 units was presently undergoing capacity expansion. The plan was to increase the annual capacity to one lakh, he said.

Referring to the SMARTECH engine, he said the 1.2 litre engine was created by the GM Technical Centre-India in Bangalore in co-operation with GM's new engine plant in Talegaon.

GM India has registered a growth of 60% last year when India's total automobile sector made a growth of 30%, he said.

"GM India has invested more than Rs 5,000 crore in India till now and is deeply committed to this market, to its customers and all its stakeholders", he added.