SAIC-GM-Wuling to sell 800,000 vehicles in '09

Shanghai, April 30 (Gasgoo.com) SAIC-GM-Wuling, General Motor's commercial vehicle venture in south China, has raised its vehicle sales goal for 2009 to at least 800,000 units, up from previously targeted 750,000 units, said xinhuanet.com, citing a company executive.

Boosted by the government's "vehicle to the countryside" program, the sales tax cut to 5% for small cars and other stimulus measures, SAIC-GM-Wuling has seen a surge in recent sales and its vehicles now are in short supply. The company's full-year sales in 2009 is expected to reach 800,000 vehicles, said one of its executive at the 2009 Shanghai auto show last week.

The company sold 90,950 vehicles in March, up 38% from a year earlier, and in the first three months, the venture achieved sales of 246,293 units, up 34.5% year on year. Sales of its flagship minivan Wuling Sunshine reached 147,674 units in the first quarter, while the Chevrolet Spark sold 15,311 units, up 59% from a year earlier. Wuling Sunshine has sold 1.5 million units since its launch in 2002.

SAIC-GM-Wuling, with two manufacturing bases in Liuzhou and Qingdao, saw its 2008 China sales hit 650,508 units, which made it the country's largest mini-van maker for three straight years, with 45% market share. General Motors holds 34% stake in the joint venture of mini commercial vehicles.

At the 2009 Shanghai show, SAIC-GM-Wuling displayed models of Wuling and Chevrolet brands, such as Wuling Sunshine, Wuling Rongguang, Wuling Hongtu, and Chevrolet Spark, under the theme of "creating value for consumers" to boost the "low-cost, high value" image of its products.