Can GM fulfill its Chinese dream?

GM's appearance in the upcoming Shanghai auto show will prove that the company has a bright future, especially in China, Kevin E Wale, president and managing director of General Motors' China operations was quoted by Jiefang Daily as saying so.

Covering 5,000 square metres, GM, along with its Chinese joint ventures-Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling , will be displaying 37 production and concept vehicles at 2009 Shanghai auto show, this year's leading auto show in China, which begins on April 20. The vehicles include a global debut, five Asian debut and some other all-new models.

Judging from the products lineup, GM is not inferior to any other global auto giants. Noticeably, making its global debut will be a unique show car developed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), GM's automotive engineering and design joint venture. However, it also reflects GM could bring less design elements from America.

As the possibility of GM going bankrupt is looming large in the U.S., many customers and dealers in China's auto market wonder how GM China will fare in the future.

Shanghai GM will have on display its full range of Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Saab models as well as several new vehicles.

It seems to prove that Shanghai GM's new products launch hasn't be affected by its American partner. Analysts said if GM goes bankruptcy, its new car development would be most affected. But the influence may be slim in a short time as new models design usually have been planned five years in advance before official launch, the local R&D team in PATAC has grown up to undertake many key sectors development in complete vehicles research. What's more, the American automaker, struggling in its homeland, locates its technical centre in Europe.

GM plans to double its vehicle sales in China to more than 2 million units by 2013. The Detriot automaker plans to add more than 30 new or upgraded models in China in the next five years.