Demand for small cars in India continues to grow each day. Detroit based car maker, General Motors intends to cater to the rising demand of diesel engines in India. It is considering developing small diesel engines of capacity 1 litre to 1.4 litre in India. General Motors is setting up an engine and gearbox facility at its new plant in Talegaon near Pune in India. The new facility will be worth Rs. 1000 crores or $230 million.
“The gasoline engine range that will be made in the India plant will span 1 litre to 1.4 litre. We understand that the natural tendency in India is to look at a smaller diesel and we are actively exploring that option through GM Powertrain.” said Fritz Henderson, CEO and President, General Motors.
The new diesel engine manufactured by General Motors shall be similar to Ford's 1.3 litre multi jet engine currently being manufactured at its Ranjangaon facility. Suzuki is also manufacturing its new engine at its Manesar plant near Gurgaon.
Nick Reilly, president, GM Asia Pacific and GM group vice president, also confirmed that the company is looking at different displacements and find an opportunity for a small diesel as well.
