General Motors opens manufacturing facility in IndonesiaMay 11, 2013 - 10:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - General Motors Co. this week opened a $150 million manufacturing facility in Beraki, Indonesia, mlive.com reported. The nearly 190,300 square-foot facility is fully-owned by GM Indonesia. Its 700 employees will produce Chevrolet Spin, a subcompact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). “Indonesia is one of General Motors’ fastest growing markets and we are big believers in build where we sell and source where we build,” said Tim Lee, GM vice president of Global Manufacturing and president, International Operations, in a release. The Detroit-based automaker last year experienced a 17 percent growth in Indonesia compared with 2011, according to Lee. The seven-passenger Spin -- introduced in September 2012 at the Indonesia International Motor Show -- will be offered with three different engine variants: 1.2-liter, 1.5-liter, and 1.3-liter diesel. GM said 80 percent of the Spins manufactured in Indonesia will stay in Indonesia, with the remainder exported to Thailand and the Philippines. The Bekasi facility can manufacture as many as 40,000 vehicles a year. “With the excitement around the launch of Chevrolet Spin, we are looking forward to continuing on this path of success,” Lee said. At the launch event, Bekasi’s employees had their hand stamped in clay, according to GM. The tiles will be installed on a permanent wall in the facility to mark the grand opening. Other special activities included snare drum performances, flag dance, a ribbon cutting and the music of a marching band. Once the formal speeches were completed, guests were taken on a tour of the plant’s production line. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakh Foreign Minister arrives in Armenia Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu on Monday, March 18 arrived in Armenia for a two-day trip. Aliyev touts “good chances” for normalizing ties with Armenia Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has declared that there are “good chances” for normalizing relations with Armenia. Putin secures fifth term as Russian president Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured a fifth term in office through a dubious national plebiscite. Top Armenian, Indian defense officials discuss cooperation The discussions primarily focused on enhancing cooperation in the defence sector between Armenia and India. |