GM China pulls out of '09 Shanghai auto show

Shanghai, March 25 (Gasgoo.com) The Opel brand under General Motors China will be absent from the upcoming 2009 Shanghai auto show on April 22-28, cheshi.com said today.

At the Beijing auto shows and Shanghai Auto shows in recent years, GM China and Shanghai GM have joined hands to display the Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Saab and Opel brands, and shared the exhibition fees. At the 2008 Beijing auto show, all models of the Opel brand are displayed and two new models made their Asia debut.

GM China will join Shanghai GM at the upcoming Shanghai auto show this year, but only in name. Its Opel models will not appear at the event and the exhibition fees will be paid by Shanghai GM alone this time.

Because of big losses of General Motors in its home U.S. market and the lingering impact of the financial crisis, GM China expects to control its cost in the way. In addition, GM is transferring heavy R&D costs and other financial burdens to its Chinese venture Shanghai GM.