PUNE: Auto major General Motors (GM) India plans to commission 160,000-unit Powertrain (Engine) plant at their Talegaon plant premises by the end of this year.

This will be the first flexi-engine plant for General Motors globally wherein both petrol and diesel small car engines are going to be manufactured together.

The company having a total production capacity of 1,40,000 units per annum currently marked the completion of two years of successful operations of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Talegaon here on Friday.

GM India’s manufacturing facility at Talegaon has played a vital role in matching the supply with the increasing demand expectations. “With the recent addition of the second shift of production at the plant, we will continue to match up to expectations of providing the very best. The commissioning of the Powertrain plant will make it an integrated facility, said vice-president (Corporate Affairs) P Balendran during a media interaction on Friday.

The Talegaon plant has clocked a total production of 84,349 units till July 31, 2010, and registered the highest production figures in April 2010 with 6856 units.

The plant has also commenced in-house stamping, he added. Balendran said GM India is deeply committed towards the society and its role as a responsible corporate and undertakes several activities in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on a regular basis in and around the plant.

These include free medical camps for women and children of the nearby villages, blood donation drives and safety celebrations entailing safety oath by GM India employees. “The initiatives undertaken by GM India reiterate its commitment to the Indian market as it continues to work on several product programmes and capacity expansion measures to cater to the wide and varied requirements of its customers in India,” said Balendran.

NEW LAUNCHES

GM India plans to launch five more vehicles in the Indian market, which includes three light commercial vehicles (LCV) and two passenger cars comprising a mini car and a sedan. The new products are expected to hit the market by 2011-2012.