SAIC-GM-Wuling Jan-Apr sales rise 40% y/y

Shanghai, May 21 (Gasgoo.com) SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), GM's mini-commercial vehicle venture in China, sold more than 340,000 vehicles in the first four months this year, up 40% year on year, xinhuanet.com said today. This sales growth was driven by the Wuling Sunshine minivan, which sold 200,000 units in the period.

The joint venture increased sales in April by 60.6% from a year earlier to 95,544 units, the most vehicles sold by a Chinese carmaker in the month. China recorded total domestic sales of 1.153 million vehicles last month, with SGMW as the top seller, followed by Shanghai VW, FAW-VW, Shanghai GM, Chongqung Changan.

The Wuling Sunshine, a minivan launched in 2002 and popular with rural customers, was China's bestselling vehicle last month, tallying 50,491 units and bringing its Jan-April sales to 200,000 units. Earlier this year, China released a support program to subsidize rural buyers of mini-vans and light trucks.

With manufacturing bases in Liuzhou and Qingdao, the joint venture makes small vehicles of both Wuling and GM brands, such as Wuling Sunshine, Wuling Rongguang, Wuling Hongtu, and Chevrolet Spark. SGMW’s 2008 domestic sales hit 650,508 units, making it China's largest mini-van maker for three straight years, with 45% market share.

SAIC-GM-Wuling currently has more than 1,300 sales and service outlets nationwide, which cover 90% of Chinese cities and 30% of counties and townships. In late April, the company raised its vehicle sales goal for 2009 to at least 800,000 units, up from previously targeted 750,000 units.