GM to increase workforce at technical centre in Bangalore

US carmaker General Motors (GM) plans to increase the workforce at its Indian technical centre. Karl Slym, president GM, said yesterday the company plans to recruit 500 people for its technical centre in Bangalore.

Currently, there are 1,600 employees its Bangalore technical centre, which develops vehicle and powertrains and conducts design and R&D activities.

''We will increase our headcount to over 2,000 people at our Bangalore technical centre by the end of this year,'' he said on the sidelines of Global Investors Meet (GIM) hosted by the Karnataka government in Bangalore. The people hired will work in areas of vehicle engineering, powertrain engineering, design and R&D sections in the technical centre, he added.

According to Slym, the first quarter has seen the company sign $500 million worth of contracts with component suppliers in India. GM is sourcing components from Indian suppliers in India, for its global operations that span 200 countries.

He added that with Reva Electric Car Company having parted ways with GM in favour of a majority-stake sale to Mahindra & Mahindra (See: M&M acquires controlling stake in Reva), it would develop electric cars for the Indian market on its own. 

The Banglaore technical centre would also be involved in electric vehicle development along with its R&D network headquartered in Detroit.