GE pitches for plastic in Tata People's Car

GE Plastics recently provided a front fascia in plastic for Tata Motors's Tata Ace.

Another end in Tata Motors' much-awaited Rs 1 lakh car project is in the process of being tied up. GE Plastics is in talks with the Indian vehicles company to supply plastics for the car.

A GE Plastics executive in India said, "It was in the reckoning for the small car being developed by Tata Motors." But no firm order has yet been placed.

A Tata Motors spokesperson said the company would not offer any comments on its Rs 1 lakh car project, slated for production by 2008.

GE Plastics recently managed to provide a front fascia in plastic, replacing metal, for Tata Motors' best-selling mini-truck, Tata Ace. This front fascia is designed to withstand high impact with good weather and oil resistance properties.

GE Plastics' General Manager for Global Marketing (automotive) Mark H Kingsley said cost-effective solutions involving plastic could replace conventional materials like steel and aluminium in cars.

At present, about 20 per cent of a car, on an average, are made of plastic. It could be increased to 40 per cent, said Kingsley.

"This will mean a 10 per cent reduction in the overall weight of the car and a five per cent reduction in fuel consumption," he said.

The company supplies plastics to nearly every automobile manufacturer in the country, totalling about 3,000 tonnes. Its target is to double that by 2008. The automotive industry is a key target growth area for GE Plastics in India, a sector from which it gets 30 per cent of its revenue.