The US automaker General Motors will introduce diesel variant of its popular compact car 'Beat' in the country soon.

The company, which introduced petrol version of the car during the Auto Expo in New Delhi, in January has been witnessing huge demand for the compact car from its stable.

"We will introduce the diesel variant of 'Beat' soon," General Motors India Vice-President P Balendran said here.

The company produces the Captiva, Optra, Cruze, Aveo, Aveo U-VA, Spark, Beat and Tavera in the country from its manufacturing facilities in Halol in Gujarat and in Talegaon Maharashtra.

To a query on whether the company would introduce petrol variant of premium luxury sedan Cruze, he gave a negative reply adding that sale of diesel variants have exceeded the expectations.

For the same reason the company planned to introduce the diesel variant of Beat in the country. "We are planning to launch it in the first quarter of 2011 (calender year)," he said, declining to elaborate.