General Motors India launched its new Chevrolet Beat recently. It also announced that it will begin commercial production of its power trains at its Talegaon unit near Pune by by the fourth quarter of this year. “In the first phase, the company will produce 1.6 lakh engines and in the subsequent phase in 2011, the capacity would be increased to 3 lakh engines. This is the first flexi-engine plant of General Motors worldwide where both petrol and diesel engines will be manufactured together. The company is seriously looking at powertrain exports. The company has successfully tested the first 1.2 litre petrol engine on its newly launched Chevrolet Beat mini car in December 2009,” said Karl Slym, President and Managing Director, GM India.

General Motors also indicated that the company is keen at entering the LCV market in India in next few years. It plans to introduce three LCV models of Chevrolet brand in India apart from launching another compact car in 2012. "We will be exporting to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka this year and 20 per cent of the volume will be exported to European and Asia Pacific countries next year," Slym added.

General Motors hopes to clock one lakh sales figure in 2010 with sales of its various small car models in India. The leading car maker has invested over Rs 5000 crore in the country till date employing 4000 people.