GM Ousts Executives Over Rigged Emissions Tests in India

General Motors Co. says it has dismissed Sam Winegarden, vice president for global engine engineering, and 10 other powertrain employees in the U.S. and India for breaches of company policy.

Indian news media that cite unidentified sources report that GM has fired a total of 25 people. They allegedly include the local unit's CFO, technical center chief and three former executives: its president, engineering head and sales and marketing boss. The company had transferred the last three to posts in other countries.

GM adds that the ousters stem from its investigation of violations of India's emission regulations that forced the recall there last week of 114,000 diesel-powered Chevrolet Tavera MPVs from the 2005-2013 model years.

The company has admitted to the Indian government that employees falsified emission data so that the Tavera appeared to comply with the country's standards, according to the New Delhi-based Economic Times.

The newspaper cites a recent GM letter to regulators, which said staffers substituted specially tuned low-emission engines in some test vehicles and manipulated the weight of some to qualify for less stringent standards.

India says it has launched an investigation of GM's local unit to determine whether the company made systematic errors or engaged in willful wrongdoing. A report is expected next month. GM could be subject to fines or restrictions on production.

The problem prompted the company to halt Tavera production and sales in stages between the start of June and early July. GM says it has found a remedy for the problem, which is subject to retesting by government inspectors.

The company tells the Times it also is considering a recall of diesel variants of its Chevrolet Sail small hatchbacks and sedans to fix emission flaws.