As a step towards launching its first-ever electric vehicle in India, American auto giant General Motors will showcase a production-ready mini electric car in April this year.
“We will be showcasing a mini electric car in India in the month of April. But it will not be for sale immediately. The timing of its introduction to the market depends on feedback. This is more like a knowledge finding exercise for us”, Karl Slym, President and Managing Director, GM India said.
The small electric car, jointly developed by the company's engineers in US and Bangalore, would be based on existing model, Slym added. General Motors India, fifth largest automobile company in the country which sells cars under Chevrolet brand in India, is present in the market with sub-brands Spark, Aveo UVA, Aveo, Optra, Tavera, Captiva, Cruze and Beat.
“We are present in the electric vehicle segment in the global market with vehicles like Chevrolet Volt, or the Cruze electric. Before we introduce them in the Indian market we would like to get a response from the India market through a showcase of the mini electric car here,” he said.
The automobile major also has plans to enter the premium car segment with the introduction of Cadillac in the coming years.
“Last year the company had made a survey of the potential for GM's other models like Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac in India. But we found that Cadillac is having the strongest brand recognition here. We will launch Cadillac at the right time," Slym said.
The American carmaker will also be launching 14 variants apart from six new models in the country in the next two years out of which two would be LCVs and the other four would be a SUV, hatchback and sedans, he added.
