General Motors designs new turbo-diesel engine to be used first in Indian market

PRESS RELEASE

* 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine to have best-in-class fuel efficiency and performance for its size
* General Motors Torino Engineering Center development team was supported by GM India Engineering
* Production begins in Talegaon, India in June 2011
* First application to be the Chevrolet Beat for India market

Torino, Italy -- A multinational team led by GM's Torino Engineering Center and supported by engineers from GM India today announced that production of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder diesel engine will start in June 2011. The diesel expertise of the GM's Torino engineers has resulted in an engine that is expected to enhance GM's competitiveness in the Indian market.

"The exclusive design leveraged the capabilities of dozens of Torino-based diesel engineers to deliver what is expected to be a leader for its size in performance and fuel efficiency for the Indian market," said Stefano Caprio, the 1.0-liter engine global program manager and chief engineer. "Contributing to the great fuel economy is an innovative, lightweight three-cylinder design."

The new compact engine will also be the peak torque leader for its displacement in the Indian market (140 Nm @ 1,750 rpm) and low-end peak torque leader for its displacement worldwide at 100 Nm @ 1,250 rpm.

GM Torino and GM India Engineering collaborated closely to design in specific regional features and content requirements. Features of the engine include an iron block, aluminum DOHC cylinder head, lifetime maintenance-free timing chain, centrifugal blowby separator filter for lower oil consumption, low-noise timing gears, a balancer shaft for state-of-the-art NVH and a precisely sized waste-gated turbocharger.

The 1.0-liter turbo-diesel engine will be manufactured at GM India's Talegaon plant in Maharashtra and will be launched on the Chevrolet Beat in the second half of 2011.

"GM India President & Managing Director Karl Slym said, "This new state-of-the-art turbo-diesel engine will enhance the competitiveness of our Chevrolet line-up in the Indian market. The addition of diesel options to our portfolio will continue to improve our sales volume and market share," Slym added.

About GM Engineering Center in Torino: the GM Engineering Center in Torino was established in 2005 with 80 employees. In September 2008, the center moved into its new Politecnico facility, making GM the first automotive company to become a physical part of a university campus. The collaboration brings strength to engineering research and development. The center engineers and develops diesel engines, controls and advanced propulsion systems. It currently employs more than 500 people.

About General Motors India: General Motors India has completed 16 years of operation in India. GM India started its journey in 1996 and now offers products under the Chevrolet brand, which was introduced in India in 2003. Chevrolet had already emerged as one of the fastest growing automotive nameplates in India. GM India produces the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Tavera for sale in India and operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Halol, Gujarat and in Talegaon, Maharashtra