General Motors to cease India operations end 2017
General Motors India has announced that it will cease sales in the domestic market from the end of 2017. The company will only focus on exports from India in the future.
The company had ceased production at the Halol Assembly Plant on April 28, 2017. Negotiations are currently in progress on the asset sale at Halol. The focus at the Talegaon plant will now be only on exports to markets around the globe.
Kaher Kazem, GM India president and managing director, said “GM India’s export business has tripled over the past year,” Kazem said. “Exports will remain our focus going forward as we continue to leverage India’s strong supply base. We recently launched the new Chevrolet Beat hatchback for export to Mexico and Central and South American markets and will launch the Chevrolet Beat sedan later this year for those markets. ”
The company says that it will offer full support to affected customers, dealers and suppliers. GM India says that it will honour all warranties for their products and will offer comprehensive after sales support moving forward. Parts requirements and service agreements will also be honoured but we dont know for how long.
The decision was conveyed to all GM India employees today.
Resale values of existing Chevrolet cars on the road can expect to go down hill after this announcement. The new Beat was slated for an India launch soon but that seems to be called off.