In an effort to focus on mini- and small-car development General Motors plans to invest $7.3 billion in its South Korean subsidiary over the next five years, according to a report from Wards Auto.

The majority of the investment in GM Korea will go towards product development, rather than production or sales, the report stated, siting an unnamed source at GM Korea. Part of the investment plan entails doubling the size of GM Korea's design center in Bupyeong, due to be completed by the end of this year.

Tim Lee, GM vice president-global manufacturing and president of international operations said GM Korea will play a major role in the operation's global growth plans and that the investment, which amounts to 8 trillion Korean wan, will enable the automaker to "continue to develop globally competitive products that exceed customers' expectations at home and abroad," the article said.

GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha said the investment will make GM Korea "reborn as a more competitive automaker" and that the company "has now begun a new era for the next decade and beyond."

Both men indicated GM Korea will produce six next-generation globally available vehicles and powertrains, including GM's first globally available, completely battery-operated vehicle.

Specifics of what sort small- and mini-sized vehicles might be coming were not available, however GM Korea's advanced design center in Seoul intends to explore new vehicle design and propulsion concepts, the report stated.

News of the investment always concerns that GM might consider downsizing its presence in South Korea, the report indicated.

General Motors also announced Monday a partnership with AT&T to bring 4G LTE wireless capabilities to its U.S. vehicles by the end of this year. There was no indication of when, if ever, wireless-enabled cars will be available in overseas markets.

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