GM identifies India as major market for future growth

General Motors Corporation, the world's biggest automaker, has identified countries in the Asia-Pacific, including India, as one of its future growth markets.

It has, however, ruled out any deal with its troubled alliance partner Fiat SpA of Italy and Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation for joint sales and marketing efforts or sourcing auto components in the country.

The United States-based company already sources auto components and software tools from the Indian companies like Sundaram Fasteners and Satyam as part of its global sourcing business, Terence B Johnson, general director (vehicles sales, service and marketing), GM Asia Pacific, said in New Delhi on Monday.

"Our priority markets are Australia, China, Korea, India and Thailand. We see India and Thailand are emerging as major contributors to GM's operations in the Asia-Pacific," Johnson told reporters after the launch of GM India's new notchback sedan Chevrolet Optra.

"India is a major contributor for lot of goods and services we source. Sundaram Fasteners and Satyam are two of our major partners," he said adding the company enjoyed "very good success in terms of global sourcing" of fixtures and finishings from the Chennai-based Sundaram Fasteners.

GM is engaged in sourcing the high-end software work with Satyam. The company recently set up a technical centre in Bangalore, one of the largest outside the US.