New GM to pursue Indian business aggressively

With General Motors today coming out of bankruptcy with the launch of a new company, the Indian subsidiary of the US car giant said it will aggressively pursue its operations without modifying the business plans.

"GM will continue to remain aggressive in India in order to take advantage of opportunities as they arise," General Motors India President and Managing Director Karl Slym said in a statement.

"Our goal is to continue to provide the best cars to our customers across the country while taking advantage of the extensive global resources offered by the new General Motors Company," he added.

General Motors today steered itself out of bankruptcy, with the launch of the new restructured firm, known as General Motors Company.

 

Slym said the future plans for the Indian operations are on track and it would go ahead with its proposed launches.

"We have no intention to modify our product, brand or other business plans including new product launches -- the all new Chevrolet Cruze from our mother plant in Halol and an all new Chevrolet mini car from our new plant at Talegaon," he added.

GM India is committed to ensure that its customers continue to receive a "top-notch" sales, service, spare parts and warranty coverage experience, he said.

"Our dealers will also continue to receive all our carlines, while our suppliers will continue to work with us to supply parts and components for our cars, which we will continue to build at our Talegaon and Halol facilities," Slym said.

The new GM has acquired all the subsidiaries outside the US, including India and all of those in the Asia Pacific region, and these would continue to operate normally.

As part of its restructuring process, General Motors has eliminated all its regional operating bases.

"To improve customer focus and speed, General Motors will end its regional operating structure, moving decisions closer to the customer. This eliminates the regional president positions and the regional strategy boards," the statement said.

The company said Nick Reilly, who was the GM Group vice-president and also the president of the GM Asia Pacific, would take over as the executive vice-president of GM International Operations (GMIO), based in Shanghai, China.

"Today marks a new beginning for General Motors, one that will allow every employee to get back to the business of designing, building, selling great cars and trucks and serving the needs of our customers," GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson said.

Earlier GMI had said it was facing problems in raising funds for its under-construction $200-million engine plant in Talegaon due to the apprehensions of financial entities.