Some heads are likely to roll from American carmaker General Motors' Indian subsidiary as staffers involved directly with Indian operations are being probed for their role in the entire episode leading to fudging data and technical specifications of vehicles.
Two days after undertaking one of the biggest ever vehicle recalls in India, where the local subsidiary GM India had recalled 114,000 units of its multi utility vehicle Tavera for faulty emission on Wednesday, the American carmaker is probing the role of its staffers in the domestic operations.
According to highly placed sources these staffers from the local subsidiary General Motors India are likely to be from the core areas of engineering, R&D, quality and the compliance departments as well as related to production at the Halol plant in Gujarat and its second factory at Talegaon in Maharashtra. The company makes around 10 models comprising of hatchbacks, sedans and multi utility vehicles across these locations which are sold only in India.
A person with direct knowledge of the development said that the role of employees working at the Indian subsidiary is being ascertained with regard to the variation in engine specifications in vehicles.
While a detailed inquiry has already been instituted by the government, the company is independently verifying the role of its employees that led to such malpractices for a long period.
"A strict scrutiny of the entire process is being done. An internal audit has brought to light the role of many executives, but they are largely from the international operations. The attention will now be turned at the Indian subsidiary for the role," a person close to the internal development said.
GM India President & MD Lowell Paddock refused to comment on the ongoing action on the matter. "It's an internal matter for the company. We will not provide additional details or comment on an internal personnel matters," he said.
The American carmaker has already taken action against some of its employees on the issue of technical fudging of its vehicles. As per the initial information around two dozen executives have been relieved from duties or left the company at various levels in the past few months including some from the senior leadership team.
GM Indian did not confirm to any of these developments or the action taken against these employees but sourced said that these employees are from the critical areas of finance, engineering, global purchases & supply chain departments.
