Shanghai GM Jan sales double to 90,202 cars

Shanghai, February 4 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors' Chinese venture Shanghai GM said earlier this week that its car sales more than doubled from a year earlier to 90,202 units in January, Shanghai Daily reported.

The robust sales by Shanghai GM were attributed to the company's new generation of mid-to-high class sedans Buick Regal and Buick LaCrosse, which achieved total sales of 17,011 units. The venture also sold about 17,030 Chevrolet Cruze cars and 20,585 Buick Excelle cars last month.

In addition, the rising market demand ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, which falls on Feb. 14 this year, also helped Shanghai GM and other carmakers to post record sales last month. China's car sales may exceed 1 million units in January, industry officials said.

Last year Shanghai GM sold 727,620 cars in the domestic market, up 63.3%. The passenger car venture's Buick brand posted sales growth of 59.6% to 447,011 units. The Excelle sold 241,109 units, remaining the brand's bestseller for the sixth consecutive year.

Shanghai GM launched a new Chevrolet Sail and Buick Excelle XT in January as it aims to boost full-year sales to 850,000 units, the company's general manager Ding Lei said.